Failure To Treat High Blood Pressure

If your GP has failed to treat your high blood pressure, causing you to suffer injury, you could be in a position to make a claim. Read on to find out more, or contact us today to speak to one of our medical negligence solicitors.

Diagnosing high blood pressure

High blood pressure (known medically as 'hypertension') is when the pressure placed upon the walls of your arteries as the blood pumps around your body is too high. This will put strain upon the heart and arteries which, if left untreated, will result in very serious complications.

Occasionally, someone with high blood pressure will develop symptoms such as headaches, blurred vision, nosebleeds and shortness of breath. However, high blood pressure is often known as the 'silent killer', as it does not always generate obvious symptoms. Because of this, there are certain steps your GP should take to ensure that you are not unknowingly suffering high blood pressure:-

1. If you are a healthy adult of the age of 40, you should have your blood pressure checked once every five years.

2. If you are of any age but are taking medication that increases the risk of high blood pressure, your blood pressure should be closely monitored. For example, women who take the contraceptive pill should be tested once every six months.

3. If you have any predisposing conditions that increase the risk of high blood pressure, you should be asked to attend regular check-ups. This might include people who are overweight, smoke and have a family history of high blood pressure, as well as anyone with health problems such as diabetes and kidney disease.

If everyone in these 'at-risk' groups is advised to attend regular check-ups, the problem should be readily identified. Once diagnosed, an appropriate treatment plan can be devised. Simple lifestyle changes may be enough; alternatively, it may be necessary to take medication. Either way, a patient should be monitored to ensure their high blood pressure is being controlled. If not, it may be necessary to alter the dosage or change the type of drug being used.

Failure to treat high blood pressure

However, there are unfortunately times when a GP fails to detect high blood pressure in a patient – even if he or she is at risk or showing signs of complication. There are even occasions when a reading shows a patient to have high blood pressure, but no further treatment is provided. Such negligence can have devastating results. Indeed, if left untreated, high blood pressure can cause a stroke or a heart attack. This may lead to life-altering complications, or may even be fatal.

If this has happened to you or your loved one, you need expert legal advice. Any competent medical professional should be able to diagnose and manage a case of high blood pressure. If there has been a failure to do so, there may be a case of medical negligence. You will consequently be entitled to pursue a claim for compensation.

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