People put their trust in healthcare professionals, but accidents can occur. In 2022/23, for example, over 13 thousand clinical negligence claims were reported to NHS England. This will always make you think “what if” when seeking healthcare, which is why it is important to identify medical negligence so that you know when it has occurred and what steps you can take to receive compensation. Here are five clear ways to spot medical negligence.
- Failure to Diagnose or Misdiagnosis
One of the clearest forms of negligence is when a healthcare professional fails to diagnose a condition that is apparent based on symptoms or medical history. Alternatively, they may provide an incorrect diagnosis that leads to improper treatment, which may be considered medical negligence. There are some conditions that are challenging to diagnose and can take time, but medical professionals should always use their expertise to diagnose with accuracy and confidence.
- Delayed Treatment
Medical negligence can occur if treatment is delayed when timely care is critical. This can result in worsened health outcomes, further complications, or unnecessary pain for the patient.
- Errors in Medication or Dosage
One of the most common forms of medical negligence is errors in medication or dosage. This can include administering or prescribing the wrong medication, incorrect dosage, or failing to account for allergies or contraindications. While often errors in medication or dosage are harmless, they have the potential to be extremely dangerous and even life-threatening. This is why it is important to seek medical negligence compensation to cover the damages as a direct result of errors in medication or dosage.
- Surgical Mistakes
Surgeons are highly skilled, and most surgeries go according to plan, but there are errors that should never happen. These can include operating on the wrong body part, causing internal damage during surgery, and even leaving foreign objects inside the patient – there has been a record number of this recorded in recent years, with swabs and gauzes being the most common objects that are left inside, but even scalpels and drill bits have been found in rare cases.
- Failure to Obtain Informed Consent
Medical professionals are required to inform patients about the risks, benefits, and alternatives to any procedure or treatment. If a healthcare provider fails to properly inform a patient, and the patient suffers harm as a result, it could be considered negligence, and a claim could be made for compensation.
These are five clear signs that medical negligence has occurred. Healthcare professionals are highly knowledgeable and skilled, but even they can make mistakes. Mistakes in healthcare can lead to severe and life-changing consequences for patients, so it is important to identify when negligence has occurred so that steps can be taken to ensure that fair compensation is received to cover the damages associated with the mistake.
