When Healthcare Fails: Identifying the Signs of Medical Negligence

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Signs of medical negligence can include misdiagnosis, delayed diagnosis, surgical errors, medication errors, poor aftercare and failure to obtain informed consent. You might experience worsening of your condition, a lack of improvement or prolonged recovery due to negligent doctors. If you notice these signs and believe they caused you harm, it's important to seek legal advice to discuss your options and gather necessary evidence, such as medical records.

Healthcare has seen huge improvements over the past few decades with more technology and accuracy than ever before. This has made medical negligence claims less frequent, as there’s a larger percentage of successful surgeries and diagnosis. However, things can always go wrong and there can still be negligent doctors out there, even if initial surgery goes well.

This guide will explore medical negligence claims and how you can identify the signs so you can claim the compensation that you deserve. Continue reading to find out more.

Signs of Medical Negligence

Sometimes it can be difficult to decide whether you’ve been a victim of medical negligence. However, the common signs of negligence usually include:

- Your treatment does not appear to be working and your condition does not improve.

- Incorrect treatment worsens your condition or causes another condition to develop.

- Your doctor did not take your concerns into consideration.

- You received a different second opinion.

- An error occurred during a treatment or surgery that you have been informed of.

- There is a lack of communication and a refusal to answer questions about your condition.

- There is a lack of follow-up after your treatment or illness.

- You've been abruptly referred to other specialists.

You should now be able to consider whether you have suffered an injury based on the above signs. Solicitors like Been Let Down can give you expert advice, so you can know whether or not you have a claim for medical negligence.

Most Common Types of Medical Negligence

Surgical Errors

These are often preventable incidents that should never occur. Examples include:

- Operating on the wrong body part.

- Leaving surgical instruments or other objects inside a patient's body.

- Damaging a nerve or organ during surgery.

Medication Errors

Mistakes with medication can have serious consequences. This can include being prescribed the wrong drug, the incorrect dosage or a medication you're allergic to. It can lead to serious complications, so you need to ensure that you get the compensation you deserve.

Misdiagnosis

If a healthcare professional fails to correctly identify your condition in a timely manner and your health deteriorates as a result, it could be a case of negligence. This can also happen if your symptoms are dismissed, or if the wrong tests are ordered or interpreted incorrectly.

Taking the Next Step for Medical Negligence

If you suspect medical negligence, it is crucial to act quickly. Proving a medical negligence claim requires establishing two key things:

Breach of Duty: That the healthcare provider's care fell below the accepted standard.

Causation: That this substandard care directly caused your injury or made your condition worse.

The best course of action is to consult with a solicitor who specialises in medical negligence. They can review your medical records, gather evidence and help you determine if you have a valid case.