Search
Call Us
Enquiry
Menu
SearchCall UsEnquiryMenu
The United Kingdom is one of the best places in the world to receive medical attention – the World Health Organization ranks it 18th in its global table – despite this, clinical negligence does occur, sometimes even before patients begin treatment for their ailments.
How is this possible? Well, depending on the circumstances, if a medical professional misdiagnoses a condition, fails to send a patient for further tests, misinterprets test results, or provides a correct but late diagnosis, this can be classed as clinical negligence.
In most circumstances, any of the above scenarios will have a negative impact on an individual’s health. However, in some situations this type of medical negligence can be particularly catastrophic and may result in severe injury or even death. One example of where this might happen is where a patient is suffering from a cavernoma.
If you have experienced pain and loss as a result of negligent medical professionals, contact Healys today.
A cavernoma is a cluster of abnormal blood vessels, usually located in the brain or spinal cord. It changes in size as it bleeds and then reabsorbs blood. Sufferers could have more than one cavernoma. Cavernomas occur in around one percent of the population. A single bleed brings a risk of disability of about 40% and a risk of death of around 10%. The average age to be diagnosed with a cavernoma is 40.
Some people don’t develop any symptoms, but others might experience weakness, slurred speech, numbness, and double vision. Furthermore, cavernomas can cause an individual to suffer a stroke or seizure.
It is important that someone who has suffered the above symptoms has their case properly investigated and given a correct diagnosis. If they are not offered the right treatment they could experience serious brain injury, severe personal harm, or even death.
Patients may be able to keep symptoms under control with prescribed medication, or might need to undergo surgery to have the cavernoma removed.
Although individuals cannot claim compensation for a cavernoma – it is an inherited condition – they can claim for incorrect or delayed diagnosis.
The medical negligence solicitors at Healys could tell you whether you have a valid and viable case against the person or medical establishment responsible for misdiagnosing or failing to diagnose you with a serious medical condition, including cancer, diabetes or cavernoma.
12th August 2019
In 2018, official figures showed the waiting list for an NHS operation was over 4.3 million patients long. To put this into context, if we were to print this off, assuming an average of 50 patients per page, and laid end to end, the list would be 23 kilometres long (or 14 miles) – enough to stretch from our office in Brighton to Worthing (via the A27).
9th August 2019
You may be surprised (and somewhat perturbed) to hear the true scale of healthcare ‘adverse events’ in the UK – these are defined as “instances which indicate or may indicate that a patient has received poor quality care”. Continue reading »
4th July 2019
In two recent articles we looked at the law and procedures of Coronial Inquests in some detail. Our first article, ‘What happens at an Inquest (and other frequently asked questions)’ gave an overview of the Inquest procedure. During the course of this blog we asked, and provided answers to, questions such as, ‘When is an Inquest required?’, ‘What is the purpose of an Inquest?’, ‘What will happen at an Inquest?’ and a number of other common issues that face those involved in the Inquest procedure. Continue reading »
26th June 2019
The death of a loved one is probably the most traumatic, harrowing experience any human being will experience in their lifetime. Not only is there a period of unimaginable grief, suffering and uncontrollable feelings of sadness and loss to go through, but in addition there are a wealth of practicalities that have to be dealt with – a funeral to be arranged, finances to be sorted out, fellow grieving relatives who need supporting and potentially, sales of property and effects to be dealt with. Continue reading »
24th May 2019
No amount of money can compensate for the loss of a loved one due to someone else’s negligence, but it can at least soften the financial blow. In one case, the widow and four children of a man who was struck down by a hit-and-run driver achieved a seven-figure settlement of their claim. Continue reading »
