If you feel like you’ve been given substandard treatment from a medical professional, there’s a chance that you could claim compensation. Medical negligence is more common than you might think, with 11,700 claims going to NHS England in 2019/20. Read on to find out what medical negligence is and whether you can claim.

What is medical negligence?

Medical negligence is where your health is demonstrably worsened or put at risk by a clear example of medical care that falls below reasonable standards. If you suspect that this is you, then you’re able to make a claim and attempt to prove that this breach occurred.  Should you make a medical negligence claim?  What are examples of negligence?

Examples of medical negligence

Prescription

One example is if you are prescribed the wrong form of medication. An incorrect prescription can be incredibly dangerous and even put your life at risk.

Misdiagnosis

The wrong diagnosis can be dangerous. It could mean that a life-threatening condition is missed or ignored, or it could mean that you receive unnecessary surgery on a perfectly functioning part of the body resulting in further or new complications.

Failure to inform about risks

When you’re offered surgery, you should be informed about all the risks so that you can make the decision that’s best for you. If you aren’t given the full picture, you might make a decision that you come to regret.

Treatment worsens condition

Sometimes the treatment you’re given can actually make your condition worse. For instance, physio stretches might exacerbate a muscular issue. In this situation, you’d have grounds to complain about the advice you were given.

How can I claim compensation for medical negligence?

If you think you’ve been a victim of medical negligence, then you can attempt to claim compensation. Compensation can help you deal with the impacts of the poor quality of care such as providing recovery periods, time off work or even extra medical care.

The key thing is that you need to prove you were the victim of medical negligence. This means that you need to show that your treatment fell below medical standards and that it directly caused an injury. This can get complex. As such, it’s usually best for you to hire an experienced medical negligence lawyer to guide you through your case. However, it is worth remembering that this can be time-consuming and you’ll have to pay a fee if you win.

If you’ve suffered from medical negligence you could be entitled to compensation. Just get in touch with an experienced professional and get advice today.