Medical misdiagnosis, malpractice, and errors are all very common in Ireland. You might think that with modern medicine there would be fewer instances of medical malpractice. However, it’s a fact that every year many Irish people suffer from medical negligence or poor standards of care at the hands of doctors and nurses. In this article we will look at what constitutes medical negligence and how you can make a claim if you have been the victim of it.
What is Medical Negligence?
Medical negligence is a breach of duty by a doctor or other medical professional. The duty of care is to provide the best possible care for their patient and in doing so, they must avoid harm caused by their actions or omissions. A claim for medical negligence can be made if you have suffered physical or psychological harm as a result of the failure to meet this standard.
Medical Negligence Claims: Who Can Make Them?
In Ireland, any person who has been injured by medical negligence may make a claim against the healthcare provider responsible for their injury. This includes patients themselves but also family members who were present when treatment took place (for example parents watching over an infant being treated).
Types of Medical Negligence
Medical negligence is the failure of a doctor to provide the standard of care expected under the circumstances. There are many different types of medical negligence, but the most common include:
- Failure to diagnose
- Failure to treat appropriately
Symptoms of Medical Negligence
If you experience any of the following symptoms, it’s important to seek immediate medical attention:
- pain, bleeding and swelling in an area of your body that was injured or operated on by a doctor or surgeon.
- numbness in an area where nerves have been damaged (this could be internal or external).
Symptoms may also include bruising around the eyes or mouth if the patient has suffered facial trauma; a lump under their skin caused by fluid buildup; unexplained weight gain due to fluid retention; breathing difficulties such as wheezing or coughing up blood due to lung damage; persistent headaches that don’t go away with medication
Common Causes of Medical Negligence
Medical negligence is a term that covers a wide range of situations. The most common causes of medical negligence include:
- Lack of training, experience and knowledge in the field of medicine. This can result in mistakes being made during diagnosis or treatment.
- Lack of equipment, facilities or resources to carry out procedures safely as they are intended to be carried out by trained professionals who have access to these resources/facilities/equipment (e.g., operating theatre).
- Understaffing; too few nurses on duty at night when patients need them most (e.g., A&E unit).
How to File a Claim for Medical Negligence
If you have been the victim of medical negligence, it is important to understand the process of filing a claim. To begin this process, you should contact a solicitor and get all of the necessary documentation together so that they can begin their investigation into your case.
Once this has been completed, it will be time for them to contact the correct people in order for compensation claims against hospitals/doctors/nurses etc., as well as any other relevant parties involved with your injury or illness; such as medical equipment manufacturers if applicable (this may apply where equipment used during treatment malfunctioned).
The next step involves applying for compensation from either an insurer or government body depending on whether or not there was an accident at work involved with your injuries or illness
If you have been the victim of medical negligence, you should contact a solicitor to help you with your claim.
If you have been the victim of medical negligence, it is important that you get medical attention as soon as possible. You should also speak to a solicitor who can help guide you through the claims process and make sure that your claim is handled properly. In some cases, compensation may be available for people who have suffered injuries as a result of their treatment by doctors or other healthcare professionals.
If you have been involved in an accident and need legal advice from an experienced solicitor, contact.
Conclusion
If you have been the victim of medical negligence Ireland, it is important to know what your rights are. It is also important to seek legal advice so that you can make an informed decision about your case and whether or not it would be worth pursuing. The team at O’Connell Solicitors have years of experience in dealing with these types of cases and will be able to help guide you through every step along the way
