In the UK the medical care we receive is on the whole, of a very good standard and our healthcare system means quality healthcare is accessible to all. Despite this, there are occasions where mistakes are made by those in the medical profession and this is referred to as medical negligence.
Despite almost all these errors being genuine mistakes, there is still the fact that someone, a nurse, a doctor, a specialist, has failed to do their duty properly, which can in some cases lead to very serious consequences. Despite the responsibility they have, those in the medical profession are only human and so mistakes can be caused if they have issues in their personal life or are feeling under the weather.
However that does little to console those who have been on the receiving end of medical negligence, and knowing that someone you’ve entrusted your health to has made a mistake can be unsettling at best, and they can be both physical and mental implications.
There are a great deal of scenarios where medical negligence occurs and it can be a complex area of law. However some general examples of medical negligence are misdiagnosis of a condition, failure to diagnose a condition, failure to provide appropriate treatment or an unreasonable delay in providing treatment.
If you feel that you have suffered from medical negligence then it can be very distressing and many patients feel they have no one to talk to. This is not the case, and in the first instance it is often best to approach whoever treated you.
If no resolution comes after this, then there are bodies and organisations who can help make a complaint and support you emotionally and physically, such as the Patient Advice & Liaison Service (PALS).
In cases where the negligence has had a large impact, another option would be to go down the litigation route, as you would be able to recover compensation for loss of earnings, extra medical care and any other financial burdens that occurred as a consequence of the medical negligence.
Our no-win no-fee solicitors can give impartial advice on all aspects of medical negligence and help you if you have a medical negligence claim
