Medical Negligence

We put our faith and trust in medical practitioners when we are ill, need surgery or major treatment. Sometimes things can go wrong despite the efforts of the doctors, surgeons, nurses or other medical specialists attending to us or our family. But what if something has gone wrong because of their action or lack of action?

If a medical professional has not met their duty of care towards a patient there may be grounds for a claim for compensation.

Clinical errors or sub-standard treatment need to be set in the context of the patient's underlying condition.  A successful compensation claim needs to establish that you are in a poorer condition than could have been reasonably expected had the medical professional acted properly.  Such aspects may include:

• misdiagnosis or a delay in diagnosis
• neglect in care or treatment
• surgical errors - leading to unnecessary further surgery, scarring or pain
• inappropriate or mis-applied anaesthesia
• errors in application of medicines
• injuries to either a mother or child at birth.

Where errors can be corrected, the process can often cause a lengthy period of discomfort, pain and stress, perhaps including a loss of earnings.

Where an error or lack of care cannot be subsequently entirely corrected, then as well as on-going physical and mental issues, there may be other aspects such as a reduced earning capacity or disability to consider.

In all these cases it is wise to consider whether compensation may be due - to help cover the losses you have suffered, both now and in the future. Obviously compensation can never bring back the family member you have lost or the future life you had anticipated, but it can help to address the practical day-to-day issues that you need to handle.

To establish whether you may have a claim why not talk with one of our experienced advisers on 0800 046 1449 now? Alternatively use our online Live Chat  facility or let us know when you wish for us to get back to you - at your convenience - via our Start a Claim form.