Accident and Emergency Diabetic Foot Negligence and Claiming Compensation
Charcot foot can have debilitating consequences and may justify a claim for compensation for medical negligence.
Diabetic foot negligence in A & E
If a patient attends their Accident and Emergency facility with the possible symptoms of diabetic foot or charcot foot, it is essential that they are referred for the appropriate further investigation and, where necessary, correct treatment, in order to avoid a lifetime of possible disability.
Failings by the relevant professionals in the Accident and Emergency department may warrant a claim for compensation if the patient suffers long-term consequences.
Symptoms which might be a cause for concern would include pain, redness and swelling in the foot or ankle region, a history of recent trauma, as well as warmth in the foot. It is vital that a medical history of the patient is also taken as a history of diabetes should identify the patient's vulnerability to charcot foot.
When to claim compensation
It may be possible to make a claim for compensation if it is found that the standard of care provided by the medical professionals in Accident and Emergency fell below the level which should be expected.
If failings in care caused the patient to suffer adverse symptoms and consequences, such as mobility issues and financial losses, a claim for compensation would address these issues. A failure to diagnose charcot foot can sometimes result in a partial amputation and, inevitably, the impact on the patient's life can be devastating.
However, it is important to bear in mind that claims for compensation for medical negligence need to be issued with a court within three years of the date of the alleged negligence. A thorough investigation into the patient's care is necessary prior to this deadline in order to clarify whether or not there had, in fact, been an act of negligence and howthis had impacted on the patient, if at all.
The need for specialist legal advice
Compensation claims for medical negligence are extremely complex, requiring an investigation into the quality of the patient's medical care. This is necessary to establish whether or not the patient experienced substandard care as well as identifying whether any negligence caused an adverse impact on the patient. Furthermore, if it is found that the patient was the victim of negligence, it is then necessary to identify the financial losses caused by the negligence.
Such claims require the expertise and experience of a specialist lawyer if the patient is to achieve the best and fairest settlement of their claim.
Speak to the specialists
Glynns Solicitors is a long-established, dedicated medical negligence legal practice. Contact us today to speak with a specialist solicitor, free of charge, if you think that you may have a claim.
Please call us free on 0800 234 3300 or complete our Online Enquiry Form.
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