Negligent Bowel Perforation and Compensation Claims
A perforated bowel can be life-threatening. If a patient suffers long-term problems following a perforated bowel due to medical negligence, it may be appropriate to make a claim for compensation.
What is a perforated bowel?
The terms perforated bowel, or ruptured bowel, both refer to a situation where the lining of the bowel has split.
This means that the bacterial matter which is normally retained safely within the bowel until it leaves the digestive system can leak through from the bowel into the abdominal cavity.
The abdominal environment is not suited to coping with such matter and the leakage of bacterial matter can cause an infection in the peritoneum or lining of the abdominal space.
A perforated bowel can occur if a condition such as crohn's disease or diverticulitis deteriorates to the point where the pressure of scarring or inflammation causes a breakdown of the lining of the gut. This can be a medical emergency.
However, it can also occur as a result of negligent surgery or during a procedure such as an colonoscopy. If such an event occurs, it is essential that medical professionals diagnose and resolve the problem as promptly as possible in order to prevent the possibility of an abdominal infection triggering sepsis.
A failure to do so may be regarded as negligent and justify a claim for compensation if the patient suffers a poor long-term outcome as a result.
Why claim compensation?
Compensation for medical negligence is intended to restore the victim to the position, financially, that they would have experienced had it not been for the negligence. So, for example, if the negligent treatment means that a patient can no longer work, a successful compensation claim should take those income losses into account.
Making a compensation claim
Compensation claims for medical negligence are extremely complex, requiring the skills of a specialist lawyer who would facilitate an assessment of your claim by the relevant medical experts.
However, compensation claims for medical negligence are required by law to be initiated within three years of the date of the alleged negligence.
It is advisable, therefore, to talk to a medical negligence lawyer as soon as you think you may have been the victim of medical negligence.
Medical negligence specialists
Glynns Solicitors is a dedicated medical negligence legal practice with wide-ranging expertise. Call us today to talk to one of our team of experienced solicitors about your situation and the suitability of making a claim.
Making a claim for compensation
If a patient suffers a poor long-term outcome because effective safety-netting procedures were not used by a medical professional, it may be appropriate to make a claim for compensation.
Contact Glynns Solicitors if you or a loved one have been let down by safety-netting procedures and now face medical difficulties and financial losses as a result.
Early legal assistance can be vital so please contact us if you would like to discuss your situation. Please call us free on 0800 234 3300 or complete our Online Enquiry Form.
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