GP Negligence and When to Make a Claim
If negligent primary care has caused you to suffer debilitating long-term symptoms, it may be possible to make a claim for compensation.
The right to compensation
If a medical professional fails in their duty of care to a patient, resulting in the patient suffering unnecessary symptoms and associated problems, the patient is legally entitled to make a claim for compensation.
For the majority of patients, their GP is their first port of call when they have a medical problem or concern. It is essential that the patient receives the appropriate type and quality of care at this point.
If their GP fails them in some way, providing only substandard or negligent care, resulting in the patient suffering long-term problems which would not have been the case with appropriate care, the patient may be able to make a claim for compensation.
Negligent primary care
A GP may be regarded as having been negligent for a wide variety of reasons which can have long-term adverse consequences for the patient including the following:
- A failure to recognise possible symptoms, leading to a misdiagnosis which may then trigger incorrect treatment or medication and, of course, delay the achievement of an accurate diagnosis
- A failure to carry out an examination when it would normally have been considered necessary, leading to a delay in diagnosis
- A failure to make an appropriate referral or a delay in making a referral, causing the patient to suffer a worse outcome than would have been the case with a more timely approach
- A failure to provide red flag warnings or ensure that appropriate safety-netting is in place
Making a compensation claim
If it is found that your GP has been negligent and that the negligence has caused you to suffer symptoms and associated financial losses, you may be able to make a claim for compensation.
In addition to recognising the patient's pain and suffering, financial losses could include a loss of income where this has been caused by the negligence. For example, if the symptoms caused by the negligence mean that the patient is no longer able to work, their loss of income would be incorporated into the claim.
Speak to a legal specialist
Compensation claims for medical negligence are highly complex. If you think that you or a loved one may have a claim, contact Glynns Solicitors, specialist in medical negligence law. One of our team of experienced lawyers will be very happy to talk to you, free of charge, about the possibility of making a claim.
Contact us today to talk to a solicitor, free of charge, about the possibility of making a claim.
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