Meningitis Misdiagnosis and When to Claim Compensation
Speak a medical negligence solicitor if you think that either you or a loved one have been the victim of negligent medical care.
The problem of a misdiagnosis
A misdiagnosis of a serious medical condition can have life-changing consequences:
- Feeling reassured, the patient may not be concerned when additional symptoms develop, causing a delay in presenting to hospital
- Vital investigations or tests may not be arranged, causing a delay in an accurate diagnosis and allowing the deterioration of the patient's condition
- The long-term consequences and symptoms produced by the delay may be far more severe than had the patient received a correct diagnosis at an earlier stage
- In some circumstance and with some conditions, the impact of a misdiagnosis may prove fatal
Meningitis diagnosis and consequences on quality of life
All of these possible scenarios can apply to meningitis, where a misdiagnosis can change the source of a person's life.
Long term symptoms of meningitis can include sight, hearing and memory losses as well as seizures and coordination problems.
As can be imagined, the impact of such a debilitating array of symptoms can compromise an individual's ability to work and earn a living as well as possibly putting them in a position where they require personal care or support to achieve everyday personal, hygiene and household tasks.
Negligence and meningitis
A misdiagnosis may occur for a number of reasons:
- A failure to carry out an assessment or examination of the patient
- A failure to identify all the patient's signs and symptoms
- A failure to recognise the implications of the patient's symptoms
- A failure to make an appropriate referral
If an analysis of the patient's medical records reveals that such a situation has occurred and that the patient has been the victim of a misdiagnosis, it may be possible to claim compensation for the consequences.
A successful compensation claim will include the financial losses caused by the negligence. This may include the past and future loss of income which the patient has suffered due to their symptoms.
Speak to a legal specialist
Compensation claims for medical negligence are extremely complex. Speak to a medical negligence legal specialist to ensure that your claim is thoroughly investigated and that you achieve the best settlement.
Glynns Solicitors is a dedicated medical negligence legal practice with a team pf experienced lawyers. Contact us today to talk to a solicitor, free of charge, if you or a loved one have been the victim of a meningitis misdiagnosis.
Please call us free on 0800 234 3300 or complete our Online Enquiry Form.