If you or a loved one has received substandard care from a medical professional – and this has directly caused harm, injury, or an existing condition to get worse – this is medical negligence.
In this guide, we’ll answer the question ‘what is classed as medical negligence?’ to help you determine whether you’ve got a claim. There are a number of mistakes that can be classed as medical negligence, from misdiagnosis to surgical errors.
It’s uncommon for medical errors to happen, but when they do, the consequences can be devastating. If you’ve suffered as a result of medical negligence in the UK, the Medical Law Partnership can help you get the compensation and justice you deserve.
Start your medical negligence claim online today.
What is classed as medical negligence?
If you’ve suffered injury or harm as a direct result of substandard care from a medical professional, this may be classed as medical negligence.
There are many examples of medical negligence, but some of the most common include:
- Delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis: This could include a healthcare professional failing to diagnose your condition correctly or in a timely manner, causing the condition to worsen.
- Surgical errors: Ranging from not following the proper hygiene or sterilisation protocols to operating on the wrong body part.
- Cancer diagnosis: This could include delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis of treatment and this in some cases has reduced the chances of a successful outcome.
- Childbirth injuries: This could include avoidable complications such as fractures during delivery or brain damage caused by oxygen deprivation.
- Gynaecology and pregnancy negligence: This refers to any substandard care relating to women’s reproductive health, and may include failure to diagnose or treat conditions such as endometriosis, ectopic pregnancies, or ovarian cysts. In pregnancy-related cases, negligence may involve poor monitoring of the mother or baby or failure to detect abnormalities.
- Orthopaedic negligence: This relates to errors in the diagnosis or treatment of bones, joints, and muscles. It could include missed fractures, incorrect treatment plans, or poorly performed joint replacements.
- Spinal injuries: Examples include surgical errors during spinal operations, delayed diagnosis of spinal cord compression, or failures to act on symptoms such as numbness or weakness in the spine.
- Brain injuries: from surgical errors, infections or complications during childbirth to failure to diagnose or treat a stroke promptly.
- Eye injuries: Examples include misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis, mistakes during eye surgery that result in infection, worsened vision, or blindness, or failure to diagnose eye conditions leading to preventable vision loss.
- Fatal accident claims: Fatal medical negligence claims may arise where substandard care, misdiagnosis, surgical errors, or failures to provide timely treatment directly contribute to the loss of life. While no amount of compensation can replace a loved one, a fatal accident claim can help families get justice and financial support following their loss.
If you think you may have experienced medical negligence but your case doesn’t align with any of the examples listed above, take a look at our claim types page for a more comprehensive list of the claims we can assist you with.
Taking the first step towards seeking justice is the hardest part, but the Medical Law Partnership team is here to make it as stress-free as possible. Get in touch if you have any questions or worries and we’ll be happy to help put your mind at ease and advise you on the next steps.
I think I have a medical negligence claim – what should I do?
If you think you have a valid claim after learning what is classed as medical negligence, the first thing you should do is get in touch with the Medical Law Partnership. Our expert team will review the details of your situation and advise you on whether you’ve been the victim of medical negligence. If we believe you have a strong case, we’ll guide you through the claims process and help you pursue the compensation and justice you deserve.
Our specialist team is made up of both experienced solicitors and medical professionals, which means we understand both the legal complexities of medical negligence claims and the devastating impact that substandard medical care can have on your life. We’ll make the claims process as straightforward and stress-free as possible, handling everything on your behalf, so you can focus on recovery.
We also work on a no-win, no-fee basis, which means there’s no financial risk for you, meaning you pay nothing upfront, and you pay a small amount if your claim is successful.
It’s important to be aware that medical negligence claims are usually subject to a strict time limit. In most cases, you must start your claim within three years of the negligence occurring, or within three years of the date you became aware that negligence had taken place. For this reason, we recommend getting in touch as soon as possible.
To take the first step, simply fill out our online contact form. A member of our team will be in touch to discuss your case, answer any questions you may have, and explain your options – with no pressure to proceed unless you feel ready.