We all do what we can to keep our bodies healthy and injury-free. Unfortunately though, this is not always possible. On average 16 million people will enter a major hospital every year which highlights the prevalence of medical attention needed in the UK.
With an increased number of people visiting hospitals for medical attention, the higher the chance of medical negligence or malpractice.
Not sure what that means? This article will aim to define, explain and provide comfort for those that may have experienced either of these terms. Read on to find out more.
What is medical negligence?
Whilst most doctors and health professionals in the UK will aim to take care of you as best they can, sometimes things can go wrong. Negligence means that something has happened whilst you were in their care and it may have had lasting negative effects. This could be in the form of trauma or surgery that has gone wrong. If this has happened to you then you may be able to make a claim.
In 2020/21, there were over 12.6 thousand negligence claims up and down the country. Fortunately, major cities like London or Manchester have some of the best medical negligence specialists, so finding someone to support your claim will be easy.
What is medical malpractice?
Slightly different but still the result of medical attention that is less than the expected standard. Medical malpractice is when a doctor, nurse or other healthcare professional fails to provide a certain standard of care.
Their duty is to make you feel safe, protected and most importantly on the road to recovery. Failure to do so may be cause for a claim.
Am I eligible to claim?
To see if your experience is valid for a claim, it’s important to know what the different effects of negligence look like. Here are some of the more common examples:
- Misdiagnosis
- Surgical error
- Anaesthesia
- Prescription errors
- Long term effects of treatment
- Incorrect medical advice
- Pregnancy and birth injuries
- Dental negligence
If you have suffered from any of these then you may be able to claim compensation. Before you start your claim, you’ll have to make sure you have the relevant documents to support the allegation.
You’ll need to be able to show that the healthcare professional had a duty of care over you, how they failed to do this and how their negligence has caused you harm. You must also prove that your suffering was caused only by only the medical professional and how their error has led to physical, emotional or financial damage.
We know compensation won’t instantly make you better again. But we hope that it will soothe some of the emotional damage caused during this distressing time in your life.
