The Medical Negligence Blog

Gynaecology compensation claims

As gynaecology is the care of the female reproductive organs, it’s understandably a very sensitive subject.

Its scope can include investigating fertility problems, different types of contraception, any medical disorders (such a polycystic ovaries), issues relating to the menopause, pregnancy problems (such as miscarriage,) and illnesses like ovarian cancer.

It’s therefore a very important thing for medical professionals to get right, as getting it wrong can lead to serious and often life changing problems.
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Meningitis compensation claims

Meningitis is a deadly disease where the protective membrane that surrounds the brain and the spinal cord becomes infected. It can come in two forms: viral and bacterial.

Viral meningitis can be less serious and generally gets better by itself, and can be treated at home. If it is bacterial, however, it can be very serious indeed.

If it’s not treated quickly it can lead to partial or full loss of hearing or vision, possible amputation of limbs that have been affected, epilepsy, and co-ordination and balance problems.
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Failed Vasectomy and Sterilisation compensation claims

Sterilisation is a procedure that is designed to stop a woman being able to get pregnant. This is typically done by cutting, blocking, or sealing fallopian tubes so that eggs cannot reach the uterus where they would be able to develop.

It’s said to be more than 99% effective in preventing women from getting pregnant, and can be a permanent method of contraception.

For males, a vasectomy is the male version of sterilisation, where a man undergoes an operation where the tubes that carry the sperm from the testicles to the penis are blocked, cut, or sealed. Vasectomy’s are more than 99% effective and can also be a permanent method of contraception.

So, what happens if things go wrong?
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Advice on anaesthesia awareness and claiming compensation

Anaesthesia awareness is a horrendous thing to even think about; let alone to have to go through…

When a patient goes under general anaesthesia they are given pain relief medication and / or medication to cause unconsciousness. If this fails to work correctly then the patient could wake up and become aware of what is going on during the surgery – which is commonly known as anaesthesia awareness.

There are also cases where the pain relief is not adequate as well, so the patient is not only awake during the surgery, but also feels the pain. Patients also require medication that will prevent movement when general anaesthesia is administered.
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Surgical error claims for compensation

Many operations performed are successful and go without any complications. However, in some cases, mistakes are made, and a patient may have to deal with the adverse consequences.

Having surgery can already be very stressful, so to discover afterwards that something went wrong can be even more distressing; especially if this is going to affect the person’s life.

Surgical errors can happen for a number of reasons, and where they have taken place due to negligence, you may be able to claim for compensation.
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Medical negligence compensation claims for prescription errors

GP’s and pharmacists can easily make mistakes when it comes to prescribing medication. As scary as that may sound, it’s true! We have represented people for prescription errors for years.

There can be a number of reasons why mistakes happen when prescribing medication. Although some people may have a minor prescription error and not have severe side effects, there are those who do suffer serious complications.

If a person has been prescribed the incorrect medication, and has suffered adverse side effects, then they may be entitled to compensation if it was due to medical negligence.
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Inadequate safety at Hull mental health services

Mental health services in Hull and East Riding have been deemed as inadequate, investigations have revealed.

England’s health regulator has disclosed that patients have been waiting too long for help; senior managers are chaotic and nurses are pushed to the limit because of severe staff shortages.

The Care Quality Commission rated the Trust as inadequate at providing safe services.
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GP Negligence – know your rights!

When we are feeling ill or have a medical concern, our first point of call is normally our GP in order to ease our worries and remedy any illness we have with medication or referrals. As our GP is a person who we trust to help us, we generally expect them to always get it right.

However, doctors are only human; which means that, sometimes, GP’s get it wrong, which is commonly known as medical negligence.

We expect a certain standard of care from our GP’s, but if they fail to meet this standard, it can have serious life altering consequences for patients.
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DVT (blood clots) and Pulmonary Embolism

Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot that often begins in your leg, and moves its way up to your lungs and blocks blood vessels. It can damage the lungs and other organs that could lead to heart failure, due to lack of oxygen in the blood.

Although DVT can happen for no apparent reason it’s generally linked to people being immobile for a long period of time like passengers on long haul flights or being bedridden. Pregnant women are also at risk from DVT, and it has been linked in some cases with women who take the contraceptive pill. People who have suffered heart failure or cancer are also at risk from DVT as well.
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Appendicitis Misdiagnosis & Negligent Compensation Claims

Appendicitis is where the appendix becomes inflamed and painful. If appendicitis is not treated, the appendix can burst, which can be life threatening. Appendicitis can be caused by a blockage which can then cause the appendix to become inflamed and lead to ruptures.

In order to treat appendicitis, the patient will normally need to undergo an operation to remove the appendix. Appendicitis needs to be spotted and treated quickly to reduce further complications that can be life threatening.

But what happens if something goes wrong with your treatment or diagnosis, and this causes significant medical problems?
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Compartment Syndrome compensation claims

Compartment syndrome occurs where there is a large amount of pressure that can be caused by bleeding or swelling within an enclosed bundle of muscles, known as a muscle compartment.

The muscles in the arms and legs are in groups surrounded by blood vessels and nerves that are all wrapped in tissue. The pressure that is caused by compartment syndrome affects how the muscles and tissues function. This can cause permanent tissue damage.

The symptoms of compartment syndrome depend on whether it is acute or chronic compartment syndrome. Given how serious it is, it’s a problem that should be diagnosed and dealt with by medical professionals as quickly as possible.
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Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust fined over patient death

Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust has been fined due to safety failings after the death of a patient who drowned during a canoeing activity event.

Mansoor Elahi was 31 from Rochadale. He was an inpatient in Birch Hill Hospital when he drowned at Hollingworth Lake, Rochdale, on 5^th of September 2013.

Mr Elahi was taking part in a rafted canoeing activity that had been pre-arranged by an outdoor activity centre working in partnership with Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust. During this activity he removed his buoyancy aid and jumped into the water in an attempt to end his life.
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