Clinical Negligence and When to Make a Cauda Equina Syndrome Claim
Clinical negligence is the term used to refer to care by a medical professional which falls below the expected standard. If this adversely affects the patient's outcome, it may be appropriate to make a claim for compensation.
Negligence in cauda equina syndrome
Cauda equina syndrome is often a time-sensitive condition with the patient's condition and likely outcome deteriorating over time. Claims for compensation related to this disabling and distressing condition often focus on failings in care, caused my medical negligence, which result in a delay in diagnosis and surgery and which cause the patient to suffer worse symptoms than would have been the case with more timely and competent care.
Examples of such medical failings could include the following:
- A failure to carry out a thorough assessment and appropriate tests, meaning that significant signs and symptoms are missed
- A misdiagnosis of the patient's symptoms, causing a delay before an accurate diagnosis is achieved
- A failure to recognise the urgency of the patient's condition, resulting in a delay in a referral for an MRI scan
- A failure to give adequate red flag advice, meaning that the patient fails to seek immediate medical help if their symptoms worsen
- A delay in initiating surgery to decompress the nerve
Claiming compensation
A delay in diagnosis and surgery for cauda equina syndrome can mean that the patient is left with permanent and life-changing symptoms such as loss of mobility and double incontinence.
Where this is the case, a successful compensation claim would include the patient's loss of earnings, where this is relevant, as well as additional financial costs caused by the negligence such as the need for care or specialist equipment and household adaptations.
Claim deadlines
It is important to be aware that claims for compensation for medical negligence have to be issued with a court within three years of the date of the alleged negligence.
Prior to this date, a thorough investigation into the patient's care has to be carried out in order to ascertain whether or not they have been the victim of negligent care. This can be very time-consuming, requiring the input of the best medical experts.
Therefore, if you think that you or a loved one might be entitled to make a claim, contact a specialist solicitor at the earliest possible moment in order to get the ball rolling.
Free legal advice
Glynns Solicitors is a dedicated medical negligence legal practice with a team of experienced lawyers and a wealth of expertise in cauda equina syndrome claims.
Contact us today to talk to a solicitor, free of charge, about the possibility of making a claim.
We can offer No Win No Fee funding for medical negligence claims which we will discuss with you during your free initial telephone discussion.
Please call us on 0800 234 3300 (or from a mobile 01275 334030) or complete our Online Enquiry Form.
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