Compensating Medical Negligence

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by: PW
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99% of the care patients receive from medical institutions is first class, whether it is private care or NHS. Unfortunately, there are a small number of cases every year of medical negligence.
Many of these healthcare mistakes result in little or no harm to the patient. In fact, in many cases a patient may not even be aware when a mistake has been made. But at the other end of the scale are occasions where gross negligence causes distress, illness or even deliberate harm to a patient – as was the case with Dr. Harold Shipman.
In spite of their best intentions, doctors can occasionally allow personal issues to run over into their working lives. For a doctor, the consequences of such a lapse in attention can be far more devastating than for a butcher or a banker.
If you, or a member of your family, have been a victim of gross medical negligence you are within your rights to seek compensation. It must be noted, however, that medical negligence cases are notoriously difficult to win. It can prove tricky proving who is to blame for your illness or injuries, and it can be even harder to show conclusive evidence that the harm was caused directly while you were in the care of a professional. That said, sometime’s there is a very real need for monetary compensation, especially in the event of a child losing a parent or a patient requiring expensive medical care.
Should you wish to pursue a compensation claim, the first step to take is to discuss the matter with your doctor, nurses or managers involved with your treatment. You are also free to take the matter to whoever has been appointed the designated complaints manager within your local health authority.
Free impartial advice can be obtained from Information Complaints Advocacy Service.

About the Author

If local resolution of the matter fails, you should contact a company specialising in medical negligence – they will have the resources to help you make a successful compensation claim.

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