Can I Sue the NHS for a Bile Duct Injury?
A bile duct injury can cause very serious long-term health problems. In the worst cases, it can cause the death of the patient. Where the cause is found to be medical negligence, a claim for compensation may be appropriate.
Bile duct injuries
Bile duct injuries occur when the patient is undergoing surgery to have their gallbladder removed.
The majority of gallbladder removals are now carried out by keyhole or laparoscopic surgery. Although there are many advantages to this in comparison with open surgery, such as a shorter recovery time, nonetheless, it does seem to lead to a greater number of bile duct injuries.
This may be because the surgeon's view of the area is likely to be more restricted during keyhole surgery where tubes are inserted into the patient's abdomen through small incisions.
The potential impact of a bile duct injury
A cut or obstructed bile duct can cause severe problems including the following:
- Acute liver failure
- Peritonitis, a life-threatening infection of the lining of the abdomen
- Sepsis, a life-threatening immune system response to infection
- Multiple organ failure
- Jaundice
- Long-term hospitalisation and need for intensive care
- The need for additional surgery to rectify the injury and resolve any residual effects such as infection
- The death of the patient
Where the patient survives, the long-term implications for the quality of their health and ability to work can be serious indeed.
Cholecystectomy negligence
Early diagnosis and treatment of a bile duct injury are key to limiting long-term health problems and avoiding a medical negligence claim.
Where an injury is considered to have been caused by a negligent act, leaving the patient with significant, on-going problems, making a claim for compensation may be a helpful way forward.
If a bile duct injury is not diagnosed and treated, medical professionals may again be regarded as having provided substandard care and a claim for compensation may be appropriate.
However, if a bile duct injury is diagnosed and treated promptly, meaning that the patient suffers few significant symptoms and makes a good recovery, it is less likely to be appropriate to make a compensation claim.
Speak to a solicitor
If you or a loved one have suffered severe problems due to an injury during a cholecystectomy operation, contact Glynns Solicitors to discuss your experience with a specialist medical negligence solicitor. We will be very happy to advise you as to the wisdom of pursuing a compensation claim against the NHS.
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