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This article was published on July 20th, 2022
In the UK we are lucky enough to have an excellent National Health Service, which is the envy of many countries. However, despite this, unfortunately, things can still go wrong. Mistakes made by medical professionals either in the NHS or the private sector can have devastating consequences for both the patient and their loved ones. As specialist clinical negligence solicitors, we have dealt with a wide variety of clinical negligence compensation claims including:
A misdiagnosis occurs when a healthcare provider fails to detect a disease or condition that is present in a patient. A misdiagnosis can be the result of several factors, including missed test results, incorrect interpretation of test results, a failure to consider all possible causes of disease, or a failure to follow diagnostic protocols. Misdiagnosis can have serious consequences for the victim.
A delay in diagnosis occurs when a healthcare provider fails to act upon symptoms suggestive of cancer or act on the results of investigations within a reasonable time or at all, meaning that there is a significant risk that cancer has become more advanced by the time an actual diagnosis is made. Unfortunately, this may lead to a patient having a poorer outcome even with treatment or that treatment may no longer be available to them. We have recently seen an increase in claims enquiries relating to the delay in diagnosis of bowel cancer, a disease that can have a devastating impact on a patient if not picked up promptly.
The majority of surgical procedures are performed to a high standard and the patient is happy with the result. However, occasionally things can go wrong. Surgical negligence occurs when a healthcare professional makes an avoidable mistake during an operation, causing further injuries or worsening an existing condition.
Many women will require gynaecological examinations or procedures during their lifetime and most of them are performed well and go to plan. However, sometimes mistakes are made. These errors range from delayed or inaccurate diagnosis to surgical mishaps or carelessness during a gynaecological procedure that can lead to infertility, unwanted pregnancies and birth injuries.
Dental negligence occurs when a dentist makes an error that causes serious harm to a patient. Some examples of dental negligence include failing to sterilize equipment, failing to recognize signs of infection, failing to remove all the infected teeth, failing to remove the entire decayed portion of a tooth, or failing to correctly apply dental fillings. Dental negligence can result in a wide range of symptoms, including pain and discomfort, infections and gum disease.
People undergo cosmetic surgery for a variety of reasons, but often it is to enhance their appearance. So, if that surgery goes wrong it can be devastating for the victim. To prove that you have been the victim of cosmetic surgery negligence, you must show that your surgeon failed to meet the accepted standard of care for cosmetic surgery. You must also prove that his or her negligence was the main reason for your injuries.
Nursing home neglect is where care providers fail to provide patients with the care they require. Four main types of negligence can occur in nursing care including medical neglect, basic needs neglect, personal hygiene neglect, and social or emotional neglect. Neglect can be both inadvertent, due to staff shortages and lack of training or intentional due to incompetence or malice.
Pursuing clinical negligence claims can often be complex which is why it is important to find a solicitor that specialises in this area. We have a committed team at Thorneycroft Solicitors that is solely focused on clinical negligence claims.
We always take a professional yet compassionate approach and are there to guide you through every step of the process, from the initial advice to potential treatment, if necessary. If you have suffered an injury or your condition has worsened due to the negligence of a medical professional, we can help. To speak to a member of our experienced clinical negligence team, call 0800 1979 345 or fill out our simple enquiry form.