Most Common Types of Medical Negligence Claims - Medical Negligence Direct

Given the complex nature of medical practice, it is little wonder even seemingly small errors can have life-changing or even life-ending impact on the victims of negligence. In many cases, medical negligence victims are forced to deal with the physical and emotional consequences of a doctor’s mistake.

Despite the life-altering effects of negligence, some victims do not pursue medical negligence claims. Many patients are simply unsure if the injury or illness they suffered occurred as a result of medical negligence. Some mistakenly assume that errors are sometimes inevitable in the hospital, so no one is responsible for any resulting injuries or illnesses. This is why knowledge of the most common types of negligence can help you determine if you have a case.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF MEDICAL NEGLIGENCE CLAIMS

• Misdiagnosis–

Diagnosis is the first step after a patient is admitted to a medical establishment, and correctly diagnosing what is wrong is crucial to treating a medical condition. Sadly, some doctors make hurried conclusions because of a patient’s age or weight, even when these factors do not directly impact the patient’s current condition. If a doctor fails to recognize symptoms, makes assumptions or diagnoses incorrectly, misdiagnosis claims solicitors can help you file claim for compensation. 

Note: A doctor’s evaluation and recommendation may only qualify as misdiagnosis if he/she fails to do what other doctors would have done in a similar medical situation, causing the patient harm as a result.

• Delayed Diagnosis-

Delayed diagnosis is similar to misdiagnosis. In this situation, the doctor may have made an inaccurate diagnosis at the onset before the patient eventually receives the correct diagnosis. Medical claims solicitors can help you pursue a claim for compensation in this case if it is determined that other doctors would have accurately diagnosed the same ailment in a timely manner. For instance, the doctor may have failed to recommend a test that would have led to the right diagnosis.

The delay in providing correct diagnosis can worsen a patient’s condition, and have life-changing consequences.

• Birth Obstetric Claims–

Birth injuries are one of the most painful types of medical negligence. Expecting parents wear joy on their faces; they invest lots of time and effort making plans for the baby’s nursery and what it will grow up to be. Every possible detail is planned. However, it is impossible for them to plan for the consequences of a birth injury caused by the negligence of a healthcare provider.

Many factors can cause birth injury. The obstetrician may have provided inadequate prenatal care, even if the mother received treatment afterwards for her health and that of her unborn baby. There could also be negligence during childbirth, leading to injuries to the baby or its mother. If those injuries could have been prevented, it is likely that medical negligence has occurred. In this case, you can pursue birth obstetric claims to seek compensation.

• Appendix Negligence Claim–

Statistics confirm that appendicitis is a relatively common condition that will affect six in hundred persons in the UK. Reports in the UK also show that appendicitis is the most frequent cause of emergency admissions in medical establishments for abdominal surgery. If left untreated, the inflamed appendix will rupture and spread infection into the abdominal cavity. Unfortunately, this condition is not always correctly diagnosed. While diagnosing the condition may be difficult in some cases since it is at a very early stage, there are often cases where healthcare professionals fail to identify the condition despite clinical examinations and the patient’s history strongly indicating the presence of appendicitis.

In this case, delayed diagnosis may cause the appendix to perforate, leading to more extensive surgical process that would have otherwise been carried out. If you have suffered an injury as a result of failure on the part of a doctor to provide adequate advice and correct treatment options, you may be able to pursue a medical negligence appendix claim.

FINAL THOUGHTS –

Keep in mind that the list above is not comprehensive. However, medical negligence maintains a consistent theme: a healthcare provider fails to provide the expected level of care to his or her patients. Medical negligence takes place if the care provided falls short of accepted medical standards of care, and the healthcare provider may be held liable if this negligence causes injury or illness to a patient.