Compensation for Medical Delays relating to Crohn's Disease
Bowel perforation due to delayed surgery for crohn's disease can be life-threatening and may be regarded as negligent, justifying a claim for compensation.
What is Crohn's Disease?
Crohn's disease is an inflammatory condition of the bowel or digestive system. An individual with Crohn's Disease is likely to suffer periods of abdominal pain and diarrhoea of varying degrees of severity. They may also suffer from weight loss and fatigue.
These symptoms are caused by inflammation in the lining of the digestive system, usually the lower part of the digestive tract known as the large intestine or at the end of the small intestine.
Inflammation of the lining of the gut can cause the normal digestion of food to be restricted, leading to the fatigue and weight loss mentioned above.
Possible complications
Crohn's disease is often treated with medication but, in some circumstances, it may be necessary for the patient to undergo surgery to have a part of their digestive system removed.
A serious obstruction in the gut caused by the inflammation of crohn's disease can severely limit a person's ability to digest their food. It can also threaten a blockage or the development of a fistula or a perforated bowel.
A fistula is an abnormal passage between two parts of the body, such as the gut and the vagina can cause debilitating and highly-embarrassing symptoms. A rectovaginal fistula, for example, can allow faecal matter to leak out of the body from the vagina without control.
A perforation of the bowel can allow faecal waste to leak into the abdominal cavity risking that the patient will develop a life-threatening infection known as peritonitis.
Long-term impact of perforated bowel
If the patient develops sepsis in response to a bowel perforation, they can suffer a range of devastating and life-changing problems:
- Multiple-organ failure and death
- Long-term organ dysfunction such as blindness
- Loss of a limb
- Post-sepsis syndrome, including fatigue, anxiety, insomnia, muscle weakness and depression
- The patient may require a stoma to be fitted to carry out the normal functions of the bowel
Understandably, the above complications can make it very difficult for the patient to return to employment and they can suffer severe financial difficulties.
They may additionally require support at home in order to achieve daily tasks of washing and dressing etc.
Medical negligence
A patient who is known to be suffering from crohn's disease needs regular monitoring of their condition. Periods of severe symptoms can come and go and the severity of the patient's condition can change over time. The nature of their treatment may need to be changed and a patient who was previously coping with their condition through the use of medication may, at a later date, require surgery.
A failure to undertake surgery when necessary, causing the patient to suffer a very poor long-term outcome might be regarded as negligent.
Making a compensation claim
If it is considered that these problems are due to a failure on the part of medical professionals to respond promptly and appropriately to the patient's crohn's disease, a successful compensation claim could help.
An individual who has suffered significant and on-going physical and financial problems due to medical delays and negligence may be able to get compensation for their associated pain, suffering and financial losses.
A failure to consider that the patient's symptoms may be indicative of an inflammatory bowel disease may mean that the patient suffers serious consequences unnecessarily.
A delay in recognising the need for treatment or in organising surgery may likewise mean that the patient suffers a shocking long-term physical, psychological and financial impact.
Speak to a solicitor
If you or a loved one are living with the permanent impact of a delay in treating crohn's disease, contact Glynns today to talk to a specialist medical negligence solicitor.
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