The Medical Negligence Blog

Pelvic mesh victim wins $2.16 million from Johnson & Johnson’s Ethicon in the U.S.

An American woman from the state of Pennsylvania is set to be paid $2.16 million (around £1.7 million) for injuries suffered after having a pelvic mesh device implanted.

The medical device was manufactured by Ethicon; a medical device branch of Johnson & Johnson.

Ms Margaret Engleman brought the lawsuit after she had the mesh implanted to treat her stress urinary incontinence (SUI). However, the mesh reportedly fused and eroded into her organs causing painful complications. Being fused into her organs, the mesh could not be surgically removed and continues to cause pain and urinary problems to this day.
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The rising epidemic in opioid painkiller dependency

There is reportedly a rising epidemic in opioid painkiller dependency for women who need C–sections for giving birth.

Though caesarean sections are only carried out when it’s considered to be the safest option for both mother and baby, around one in every four/five women in the U.K. have a caesarean. Recovering from a caesarean usually takes longer than a vaginal birth which is why painkillers are frequently prescribed; but according to Health Day, opioid painkillers are being over-prescribed.
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Brain fluid drainage device recalled due to multiple complaints

Medtronic, a global leader in medical technology, has recently taken a few medical devices off the market as a result of multiple complaints and one reported death.

In this case, Medtronic issued a voluntary recall of the StrataMR valve and shunt.

The device was created to manage hydrocephalus – a condition where there is an accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) within the brain. Unfortunately, concerns have been raised about the safety of the devices.
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MRI scans and the rare risks involved…

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines are essentially very large medical devices that can take detailed scans of the inside of the body. It uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to pick up images inside the body.

If you need to look at tissue inside the body, an MRI scan is usually what you need. Often used to look inside the brain and other vital organs, MRI’s can show us a much clearer picture of what’s going on inside our bodies.

However, there are some risks with their use…
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Worldwide ransomware attack brings NHS services to a standstill

The NHS has suffered as a result of a “large-scale hack” across the globe that hit some 99 countries in total.

The malware message is demanding ransoms from hospitals! A message appearing on hospital screens says that doctors will need to cough up if they want to save their files. The big issue here is that this causes a wider problem for patients across the country as hospitals are forced to use their ‘back-up’ plans, and services are being seriously reduced.

Real people’s lives are in danger here.
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Unnecessary and incorrect operations as a result of clinical negligence

Misdiagnosis and false diagnosis from healthcare professionals can lead to unnecessary and incorrect operations.

There are many reports of doctors not referring patients to the correct departments for the correct treatment, or referring patients onto a department whereby operations are undertaken incorrectly.

Undertaking unnecessary and incorrect operations can be traumatic and life changing, to say the least. The consequences of clinical negligence can be long-lasting and can necessitate further operations. Many operations can lead to unnecessary scarring at the very least, which can also be factored into a clinical negligence claim.
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Open heart surgery linked to deadly infection

Open heart surgery has always been an operation with many implications and risks.

However, patients who have undergone open heart surgery in the UK are being told that they may be at risk of a deadly infection linked to medical equipment that was used during the operation.
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Clinical Negligence misdiagnosis leading to unnecessary operations

A misdiagnosis claim usually refers to a doctor or healthcare professional negligently misdiagnosing a patient’s condition. As a result of this, the patient could have life-changing and/or unnecessary operations from the incorrect diagnosis.

This can lead to lifelong complications, and anyone affected by a misdiagnosis situation where unnecessary treatment has been carried out may be entitled to bring a claim for medical negligence compensation.
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Nurse malpractice has led to a life ban on Nursing Register

When you seek medical treatment, many people fall into the sometimes false sense of security that they’re in ‘safe hands’. This is especially the case for one nurse, who has been banned from practising following multiple blunders.

A former nurse, Jonathan Thompson, has been told that he will never practise again after he mixed up patients and failed to adhere to NHS policies, resulting in serious complications and problems for the victims of this medical negligence.
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NHS’ New Year’s glitch that may have caused patient’s death

The NHS and London Ambulance Service suffered technical problems that caused delays which may have caused a patient’s death over the New Year period.

A separate inquiry was launched into whether the technical problems was a contributory factor to a patient’s death. The crashing of a computer meant that control centre employees had to use the old-fashioned method of pen and paper to take down emergency 999 calls for approximately 5 hours, which has been linked to the death.
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What is a delay in a diagnosis claim?

As the head of our clinical negligence department says, one thing is for sure; a delay in a diagnosis is a difficult and tricky topic.

The delay in a diagnosis can apply to any existing medical condition that you may have, and the smallest of delays can even have fatal consequences. That’s why it’s important for medical professionals to avoid diagnosis delays, and that’s why we have to step in if something does go wrong.
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Cosmetic surgery compensation advice

Cosmetic surgery has been on the rise for a number of years now.

Cosmetic surgery aims to improve a person’s appearance, and includes surgery to “wind back the clock” such as Botox and breast implants. These are seen as elective surgeries as they are not actually needed in order to live, as such; but it’s understandable as to why many people would choose to go under the knife.
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