Medical Negligence takes place when a medical professional makes a mistake or fails in their duty of care to you, causing you injury, harm or loss. Medical solicitors in Belfast can share a number of possible options for medical compensation claims help you recover the cost of medical negligence action. Medical fault can take place at any time when you are receiving medical attention, from attending consultations to aftercare following surgery. The negligence can happen in a number of ways, such as incorrect treatment being provided, misdiagnosis and surgical mistakes. You should get in touch with expert medical negligence solicitors in Belfast to get legal assistance with matters related to medical negligence compensation claims in Northern Ireland.
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Medical professionals from Doctors to Nurses to Dentists can be found responsible for negligence in their treatment of you.
Most medical treatment in Northern Ireland is of a very high standard, but unfortunately unsatisfactory treatment and care of patients by medical professionals does happen. It is key that when this happens the injured patient knows their rights and how they can take a claim and be compensated for their loss and injury.
In order to bring successful medical negligence claims you need to prove both of the following:
First of all you have to prove that the medical professional was at fault in their treatment of you. This means that the level of care they provided to you was below the standard of care expected from a skillful and competent professional, that you were not treated in a way that would be considered reasonable. To prove fault you have to show that a similarly qualified medical professional would not have made the same mistake and would have provided a higher standard of care.
Proving the medical professional was at fault and breached their duty of care to you is not enough to be successful with a medical negligence claim. In addition you have to prove that the injury you have suffered was caused by the fault of the medical professional. You have to show that it was the negligence of the medical professional that has caused your injury or harm, as opposed to it being the case that you would have suffered that injury anyway even if the duty of care to you was not breached.
Here are the different types of medical malpractice claims:
Surgical complication claims encompass a range of issues, including errors made during various surgical procedures. Examples include wrong-site surgery, organ perforation, and mistakes leading to amputations.
Maternity injury lawsuits arise when negligence during the delivery process causes harm to the mother or baby. These may involve complications, improper medical interventions, or errors during labor.
Drug administration error claims involve instances where patients are prescribed the wrong medication or incorrect dosage, potentially resulting in adverse effects, complications, or worsened medical conditions.
Critical care negligence litigation related to mistakes made in emergency care settings. This can include misdiagnoses, delays in treatment, or errors that impact the timely and appropriate care of patients.
Dental procedure negligence claims involve negligence in dental procedures, while cosmetic surgery malpractice claims pertain to harm caused by mistakes or complications during aesthetic procedures.
Radiological mistake claims involve issues related to the misinterpretation of medical imaging results, leading to diagnostic errors and potential delays in appropriate treatment.
Elderly care negligence cases focus on instances of elder abuse and neglect within care facilities. This can include inadequate medical care, substandard living conditions, or physical and emotional abuse.
Dr. Michael Watt compensation claims may involve allegations of medical malpractice or negligence attributed to this particular healthcare professional. The details would depend on the specific circumstances of each claim.
Orthopedic surgical error cases center around mistakes made during orthopedic procedures, while orthopedic injury claims involve negligence in the care and treatment of musculoskeletal conditions.
Obstetric and gynecologic procedure oversight cases relate to errors and complications arising from surgical procedures in the field of women’s health, potentially leading to physical harm or other adverse outcomes.
Juvenile medical malpractice claims involve errors or negligence in the care of children, encompassing misdiagnoses, treatment mistakes, or other issues affecting the health of pediatric patients.
Sedation negligence claims involve errors in administering anesthesia, such as dosage mistakes, inadequate monitoring, or complications during the administration process, leading to patient harm.
Brain and nerve surgery negligence claims revolve around errors made during neurological surgical procedures, potentially resulting in damage to the brain, spinal cord, or other vital structures.
Cardiovascular surgery negligence claims pertain to mistakes or complications arising from surgical procedures on the heart or blood vessels. Issues may include procedural errors, complications, or post-surgery care negligence.
Cosmetic procedure negligence lawsuits involve harm or complications resulting from cosmetic or reconstructive procedures. This may include surgical errors, infections, or dissatisfaction with the aesthetic outcome.
Mental health care negligence Claims focus on errors or negligence in the treatment of mental health conditions. This can include misdiagnoses, inappropriate treatment, or failure to provide adequate care.
Infectious outbreak negligence cases arise when patients suffer infections due to inadequate sterilization procedures, post-surgical care negligence, or other lapses in infection prevention measures.
Critical condition surgery negligence lawsuits involve errors made during surgical procedures to address traumatic injuries. These may include mistakes in wound care, internal organ repairs, or complications during surgery.
Malignancy diagnostic error negligence cases center on situations where healthcare providers fail to accurately diagnose cancer in a timely manner, potentially leading to delayed treatment and worsened outcomes.
Stomach and intestine operation malpractice litigation involve errors made during surgical procedures related to the digestive system. Issues may include complications, surgical mistakes, or negligence in postoperative care.
Injury compensation lawsuits related to medical negligence encompass situations where patients suffer harm due to accidental injuries resulting from the negligence or malpractice of healthcare providers.
The first step is to contact our expert Medical Negligence team by ringing us on 028 90 36 5595 or contacting us here law@sgmurphysolicitors.com. We can provide you with a free and no obligation initial claims consultation, where we will be able to advise you if we think you have a case for medical negligence claims. We also will inform you of the steps that will need to be taken to bring your claims to a successful conclusion. We will take details from you about the treatment you received and the impact it has had on your life.
Once your Medical Negligence claims have been accepted by our team, the next step is to obtain medical records and documentation. In addition we will take a full and detailed statement from you. Next expert opinion is normally necessary to confirm breach of duty and causation.
Your claim will be submitted to the defendant. If they admit that they are at fault, then normally we will then start negotiating with them to obtain suitable compensation for you. If the defendant will not accept that they are at fault or are not willing to propose a suitable compensation offer then we would normally advise that court proceedings be issued against the defendant, so that the court can determine the liability of the defendant and what compensation you may be entitled to.
Speak to us, free of charge. Our team of Medical negligence lawyers will advise you if you have a case and what the next steps are. They will also advise you if Legal Aid or alternative funding may be available.
A full and detailed statement is taken from you and your medical records and documentation are requested. In addition medical evidence is obtained.
Once supportive medical evidence is obtained, your claim is submitted to the defendant and one of our clinical negligence solicitors invite them to accept they are at fault and negotiate with us, so that you can be fairly compensated.
If a suitable offer of compensation is not made by the defendant, then having fully advised you of the merits of your claim, the next step to progress your case is to issue court proceedings.
Even if court proceedings have been issued, claims are often settled before reaching a court hearing. If a satisfactory settlement cannot be reached and your case has to go to hearing, one of our medical Belfast solicitors will provide you with the support, advice and information you need to feel as comfortable as possible.
The type and amount of compensation you are entitled to will differ from claim to claim, but in general there are two main elements to what compensation may be due to you.
The first element is called general damages, which compensates you for the pain and suffering that you have endured due to the negligence. The level of compensation you receive for this element will depend on how severe your illness or injury is that was caused by the medical professional’s fault.
The second element is called special damages, which aims to compensate you for any out of pocket losses or expenses you have suffered. This can include losses and expenses such as, loss of earnings, medical expenses and travel expenses.
You normally have to start a medical negligence claim in court within three years of receiving negligent treatment or three years from the date you found out that you were treated negligently. There are two exceptions to this time limit:
Legal Aid may be available for your Medical Negligence claim. During our Free initial consultation we will advise you as to whether you may be eligible for legal aid or any alternative funding arrangements.
Each claim is different and depends on a number of things, such as whether the defendant accepts they were at fault and the severity of your injury. We aim to try and settle your claim within a few months of obtaining your medical evidence, but more complex cases can take a number of years.
Here are some famous medical negligence and malpractice cases from the very first recorded case to recent medical negligence claims taken by celebrities.
This case dates all the way back to 1164 and is one of the earliest recorded medical negligence claims. In this claim a servant and his master were awarded damages from a physician for “unwholesome medicine”
The famous actress and Singer, most widely known for The Sound of Music, had a throat operation in 1997 to remove non cancerous nodules. The operation however left Andrews with permanent vocal chord damage leaving her unable to continue singing at a professional level.
Andrews issued a claim against the hospital were she received the treatment and against the two doctors involved. A confidential settlement was reached between the parties.
The famous actor and his wife had new born twins in 2007, who when two weeks old developed staph infections and were taken to Cedars-Sinai hospital where they were given treatment with Heparin, a blood thinning medication. The wrong dosage was given to the children, being 1000 times over what they should have received, leaving the babies vulnerable to extreme internal bleeding. The children fortunately made a full recovery. A settlement was reached between the hospital and the Quaids of $750,000.
Michael Jackson tragically died on the 25 June 2009 due to side effects of a cocktail of drugs that were in his system, including Propofol, a powerful anaesthetic. These drugs were prescribed by his in-house doctor Dr Conrad Murray.
Following Jackson’s death Dr Murray was arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter. At trial he was found guilty, sentenced to 4 years in prison and ordered to pay the Jackson family 100 million dollars.
Your Medical Negligence claim may not attract the level of interest and publicity as the above cases but is equally just as serious and deserving of attention and full investigation.
That is why at McCann Law we will ensure that our full attention and resources are directed at your claim to ensure you get the justice and compensation you deserve.
