Diagnosis Negligence and How to Claim Compensation
If a delay in diagnosis of a serious condition has left you or a loved one struggling with the consequences, contact Glynns Solicitors to discuss the possibility of making a claim for compensation.
What is diagnosis negligence?
Diagnosis of a medical condition is the most fundamental aspect of medical healthcare. Without an accurate diagnosis, the patient cannot access treatment.
For many conditions, a delay in diagnosis may make a minimal difference to the patient's outcome. For other conditions, however, a delayed diagnosis or a misdiagnosis may prove fatal.
A variety of medical failings could contribute to negligence in relation to a patient's diagnosis including the following:
- A failure to examine the patient for signs and symptoms when this would generally be regarded as necessary
- A failure to identify the significance of the patient's symptoms
- A failure to recognise the urgency of a referral for further investigation, leading to a delay in essential tests
- A misdiagnosis of the patient's symptoms, leading to a delay in treatment or the initiation of incorrect treatment
- A failure to provide red flag warnings, causing a delay in the patient attending a medical facility should their symptoms worsen
- A failure to seek a second opinion when this would normally be regarded as necessary
The impact of a delayed diagnosis
The long-term impact of a delay in diagnosis will vary according to the nature of the condition being experienced by the patient and the extent of the delay in diagnosis. In the worst scenarios, the impact may well be the death of a patient if, for example, a diagnosis of cancer or heart failure has been missed.
In other circumstances a delay may lead to a loss of mobility, a loss of cognitive abilities, a limb amputation, incontinence, visual problems and many, many other permanent problems.
How to claim compensation
The essential fact is that, if you have suffered a worse long-term outcome from negligent medical care than should have been the case, you are legally entitled to make a claim for compensation.
In the first instance, you should contact a medical negligence legal specialist who will be able to access your medical records and ascertain whether or not there has been a breach of duty in your care. If so, they will assess its impact on you and the suitability of making a claim.
Speak to a legal specialist
Glynns Solicitors is a dedicated medical negligence legal practice with a team of experienced lawyers and a long-standing history of successful high-value claims.
Contact us today to talk to a specialist solicitor, free of charge, about your diagnosis negligence and the possibility of making a claim.
Please call us free on 0800 234 3300 or complete our Online Enquiry Form.
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