Common Medical Negligence Cases

Time delays in healthcare can lead to worsening conditions for many people – and in some cases become life-threatening – For us helping our clients to spot signs that their healthcare may have been negligent as early as possible, and to secure them the compensation they deserve.

Injury through Birth

In most cases pregnancies and births occur without any health issues for baby or the mother, however, this isn’t always the case, and negligent care during pregnancy and birth can have an impact on mothers, babies, and friends around them.

Birth Negligence occurs when a health professional makes a mistake during pregnancy or birth that could have otherwise been avoided, and we see far too many cases where mothers and partners feel their concerns were not listened to at an early stage, or that they have been ignored.

Common mistakes that occur can include:

• Maternity staff failing to carry out tests quickly enough during pregnancy
• Misinterpretation of scans leading to an incorrect diagnosis and inappropriate treatment
• Failure to act upon reduced foetal movements during pregnancy
• Failure to take appropriate action when a mother’s blood pressure has been at dangerous levels
• Failure to perform a caesarean birth at the right time

Misdiagnosis

The incorrect diagnosis for a medical issue can have damaging consequences. Whether you’ve waited too long to receive a diagnosis, were informed you have the wrong condition, or never got a diagnosis at all, you deserve to understand what has happened.

In some cases GPs have failed to refer patients to see specialists, and for appropriate tests and scans, when symptoms are indicative of certain illnesses, and even cases of blood tests being carried out but then not reviewed.

If you have been diagnosed with a serious condition after a long period of illness and had previous assessments by a healthcare professional which did not identify what was was causing the issue, it is only right that you ask questions over the care provided.

Surgical Errors

When undergoing surgery it can be a worrying time, and one that shouldn’t be worsened by an operation going wrong.

It is a requirement of healthcare professionals to ensure that patients are made aware of – and understand – the details of any suggested surgery, any possible complications, and also alternative kinds of treatment which could be explored before making such a decision.

To not ensure a patient is fully informed – or somebody who cares for them if they don’t have mental capacity themselves – is a breach of duty of care.

Some surgical errors can lead to serious complications that may last a lifetime or could even prove to be fatal. Some of the more common forms of surgical error there are:

• Unnecessary or incorrect surgery (such as surgery on the wrong part of the body)
• Damage to nerves and organs surrounding the site of surgery
• Failed surgical procedures (for example surgery didn’t resolve issue)
• Mistakes resulting in damage to the brain
• Failure to remove surgical instruments and swabs after surgery
• Failure to appropriately monitor a patient after surgery resulting in complications

Sepsis

Sepsis can also be referred to as as septicaemia, and can be a life-threatening reaction to an infection that can lead to organs shutting down and even death in worst cases, so it is a condition which health professionals must diagnose and treat within hours of the condition taking over.

Failure to do so can leave patients in a critical condition for a lengthy period of time, or even prove fatal.

Thankfully there are early signs of sepsis potentially developing which must be considered by healthcare professionals. These are;

• Vomiting
• Fever
• Diarrhoea
• Extreme chills and shivering
• Extreme muscle pain

GP Negligence

Your GP is the first person you turn to when concerned about our health and we look to them to put our fears at rest and decide on the best course of action to getting a full recovery.

Although, in some cases Doctors can sometimes fail to correctly diagnose patients and miss red-flag symptoms. This can lead to delays in appropriate treatment, causing the illness or injury to develop further.

Some common mistakes include;

• Failure to refer to a specialist for further diagnosis or treatment
• Failure in referral for tests
• Not taking medical history into account
• Adequate examinations not carried out
• Misdiagnosing an illness (and subsequently prescribing incorrect treatment)
• Failing to recognise an illness (and subsequently delaying treatment)
• Prescription errors

How to start a medical negligence claim

The first step for making a medical negligence claim is contact a solicitor who are specialists in this field.

Our medical negligence experts will arrange chat to discuss the details of your claim and walk you through the medical negligence claim process.

There are time limits for making medical negligence claims, typically three years either from the date that the negligence occurred or from the date that you became aware that the treatment you received was responsible for your injury.

If we represent you, our medical negligence team will submit a claim on your behalf by formally notifying the person(s) or organisation to blame for your injury or illness. We’ll then gather the appropriate evidence, setting up medical examinations, and discussing settlement agreements with the opposing party.

The vast majority of medical negligence cases are settled without the need to go to court, but our solicitors have demonstrated on many occasions our complete commitment to ensuring those who suffer as a result of medical negligence get the compensation and justice you deserve, and that has included rare cases held in front of a judge in court.

Please contact our specialist team who can help you bring a claim and advise you. Call us today on 087 2905001 or fill out a contact form and one of the team will contact you at a time that suits.