Most Common Medical Negligence Cases
Medical negligence happens more often than people think and some people might not even realise they have suffered from it, until someone else makes them aware or they suffer symptoms caused by the negligence. It’s important to remember that a three year time limit, known as a, limitation period, starts when the negligence occurred or the moment you realise or become aware you have suffered an injury. It is therefore important you seek advice as soon as possible.
Top 4 Claims For Medical Negligence
As we have worked in the industry for many years, we have put our heads together to come up with what we consider the top four claims for medical negligence. No matter what type of medical negligence you might have suffered from, we can help you to claim fair compensation. The top 4 medical negligence claims in the UK are listed below.
1. Misdiagnosis
Misdiagnosis is one of the main top reasons behind causes of medical negligence. From doctors attributing symptoms to the wrong conditions, to hospitals sending people away with the wrong diagnosis, a misdiagnosis can happen for a number of reasons. However, no matter who has misdiagnosed you, this is not acceptable and it could be a case for of medical negligence, especially if you have suffered longer due to the misdiagnosis or it caused further problems. Recent studies have shown that around 1 in 6 individuals are currently misdiagnosed by the NHS, and that statistic doesn't include misdiagnosis by independent GPs, Dentists, or private hospitals.
2. Prescription Errors
Most people don't realise that prescription errors can fall under the heading of medical negligence and although you might think a doctor has just tested out a new medication, it could be that you have actually been prescribed the wrong medication or an incorrect dose. In addition to this, you might have been prescribed a medication that you are allergic to and the correct notes or actions haven't been to prevent this happening. If you have been adversely affected due to a medication you have been prescribed, then you could be entitled to compensation.
3. Surgical Errors
Currently, one in ten people a year have surgery, which means there is a high chance of surgical negligence. In addition to this around 500 “never events” also happen each year. Surgical negligence is a serious incident and it covers everything from injury during surgery to too much, or too little, anaesthetic being administered and much more. If you suffer an injury due to an accident or inadequate treatment during surgery you could be entitled to compensation.
4. Wrongful Death
In the most tragic cases medical negligence can result in a person’s death and their family will seek legal advice over what occurred. We recognise that no amount of money can ever replace a loved one but legally this is the only outcome of a medical negligence claim. The compensation recovered can help to ease the financial burden you might be suffering or help to support a spouse or a child’s future, it can also be viewed as a penalty to the NHS Trust or doctors involved.
Get Help With A Medical Negligence Claim
If you or a loved one has suffered from medical negligence, then it's important you act on it as quickly as you can due to the strict time limits involved, and that's something we can help with. For more information or to book an appointment, be sure to get in touch with us today. One of the Armstrong Foulkes team is always on hand to assist and initial advice is free of charge, if we take the case on we work on a no win no fee basis.