5 Most Common Reasons to Claim Medical Negligence

Medical negligence can happen for a wide range of reasons. However, you should never feel shamed for filing a report. Medical professionals are supposed to ensure the overall safety of patients at all times, and if certain parameters or procedures are neglected, they need to be held accountable. Although there are many reasons medical negligence can occur, we will highlight the 5 most common medical negligence claims in the UK.

Misdiagnosis

Misdiagnosis is when a medical professional fails to correctly diagnose a condition. Subsequently, a misdiagnosis can lead to inadequate care or delayed care, which can potentially be life-threatening. It is currently estimated that one out of every 18 patients is misdiagnosed in the UK each year. The progression of an illness due to misdiagnosis can be devastating to the patient and their family.

Surgical Errors

Although surgical errors are less common than misdiagnosis, they can happen. In 2022 and 2023, there were a total of 169 instances in which surgery was performed on the incorrect part of the body. This can happen when paperwork is mismanaged or a doctor fails to communicate necessities to the nursing staff. Not only does this include wrong surgeries, but surgical errors can also occur when a piece of equipment is mistakenly left in the body. Although it sounds unreal, these cases do happen, so if you feel odd after a surgery, a foreign body can be the culprit.

Medication Errors

Medication errors happen frequently in the medical world. When a doctor fails to prescribe the correct medication or the correct dosage, patients can be worse off than they were before the medication was prescribed. The incorrect medication can delay healing and, if left unchecked, can potentially lead to an undue death.

Medication is serious business and should always be taken appropriately, but your physician has to ensure it is the correct dosage and medication for the condition they are treating. Sometimes, it pays to get a second opinion or ask the pharmacist when picking up your medication if it is, in fact, for treating your condition.

Birth Injuries

Did you know that approximately 30,000 women each year experience PTSD just from giving birth? That equates to about 5% of all women who give birth. The reason the statistic is that high is due to the overall stress that women experience during the birth process. That does not account for other birth injuries such as bleeding, botched c-sections, pressure, and injury-related injuries to the baby. Although we have come very far in women’s and babies’ health during birth, it remains one of the most traumatic events a woman can experience in her life.

Birth injuries are not just traumatic but can cause pain and suffering for many years to come. An injury to a baby can cause them to have disabilities that could have been avoided had the medical professional performed the birth correctly. The primary problem with birth injuries is the issue of not one but 2 patients at the same time. If one or both parties are injured, the results can truly be life-altering.

Anesthesia Errors

An anaesthesiologist is among the highest-paid individuals in the hospital. The reason they are paid so well is due to the risk they take when performing their job. They must go to school for many years to become a qualified anaesthesiologist, but even though they are qualified, it does not mean they do not make mistakes. One study suggests that up to 89% of anaesthesiologists report making a medication mistake at some point in their careers. Approximately 200 patients annually in the UK will suffer from an anaesthesiologist’s mistake.

Mistakes made by an anaesthesiologist can cause patients to wake up during a procedure, experience pain while out during a procedure, or asphyxiate and die on the operating table. So many people are afraid to be put under for surgical procedures, and it is no wonder with the growing number of mistakes made by anaesthesiologists.

Medical negligence can happen, and from these statistics, it is often not a case of if but when something will occur. You can do your part by holding those who are responsible accountable. If you have been a victim of medical negligence, do not hesitate to contact a qualified solicitor today.

How a Medical Injury Solicitor Can Help

It is highly recommended that you speak to a solicitor who can assist you in understanding your rights and options in relation to a medical negligence claim and who can advise you on how to proceed in light of the CRU. At SilverOak Solicitors, our team of experienced medical negligence solicitors will evaluate your claim and offer insight into the most effective course of action. Contact us to speak with one of our medical negligence experts about your case today.