What Is Medical Negligence And What Can Be Done To Help?

If you, or a loved one, suffered at the hands of medical negligence, did you know that you could potentially be eligible for compensation? Our medical system is pretty fantastic it has to be said, but unfortunately there are times where mistakes happen, which could quite easily have been avoided. These mistakes can cause all types of complications for patients, and can vary drastically. For example, sometimes, an appointment may not have been recorded correctly and so due to human error, you could potentially miss a routine check up at your local doctor’s surgery. In other cases however, things could be a great deal more serious. As awful as it sounds, there have been instances where people have lost their lives due to medical negligence, which could easily have been avoided if those at fault had done their jobs properly. As mentioned, medical negligence can vary drastically, but if you or somebody you love has suffered because of medical negligence, you could potentially be eligible for compensation. Here’s a more detailed look at what is medical negligence and what can be done to help.

What is medical negligence? –Basically speaking, medical negligence is best described as being substandard care which a medical professional has provided to a patient under their care, resulting in other complications, or complications of pre-existing conditions. Medical negligence can be caused in a whole variety of different ways. For example, is a doctor prescribes the wrong medication, which either fails to treat the condition in general, or worse still results in further complications such as allergic reactions, this is medical negligence. Misdiagnosis is another form of medical negligence, as are surgical errors and incorrect treatments. The best thing you can do if you suspect you’ve been the victim of medical negligence, is speak to a team of trained experts who will help you every step of the way.

How is medical negligence proved? – This is where things get tricky, as it obviously has to be proven that you are indeed the victim of medical negligence. If you wish to claim for compensation due to medical negligence, you will need to prove that the caregivers are indeed at fault. Ideally you will need access to medical records, including ultrasounds, X-rays, etc, along with a detailed statement provided by you, along with any other helpful info or data. Photographs or videos for example, can be useful as you could use them to document things such as allergic reactions, or injury or complication following a surgical procedure perhaps. You may also use witnesses such as work colleagues, family members, or close friends, to help back up your claims.

What can you claim for? – When it comes to compensation, it’s important you know what you can claim for in the first place. To begin with, you can claim for expenses such as travel, medication, medical consultations, additional treatment, and things of that nature. Lost earnings can also be recouped, along with the costs of surgery, medical treatment, alterations to your vehicle and/or home, future loss of earnings, and costs of receiving care in general. Pain, suffering, and distress compensation can also be claimed for. How much you receive will of course depend on what you are claiming for in the first place.