It could be that you have undergone a medical procedure recently or maybe you were prescribed
some medication for a certain condition for example, but sometimes you instinctively know that
something doesn’t feel right afterwards.
It is not always immediately obvious that you have become the victim of medical negligence as
not every issue is visible to the naked eye, so how do you deal with a scenario like that?
Alarming Rise in Incidents
Despite most of us holding the general perception that medical professionals and the NHS in
general do a good job of looking after our health, mistakes can and do happen.
It is hard to argue with the observation that the NHS for example, is under extreme pressure
most of the time with a constant flow of patients and budgetary constraints to deal with.
Regardless of any extenuating circumstances, the fact of the matter is that incidents of medical
negligence are on the rise and the number of incidents are not just confined to public health
services and can apply to private practice too.
What is Medical Negligence?
In simple terms, medical negligence occurs when you do not receive the recognised standard of care
that is expected as measured against what a qualified medical provider would have done in the
same circumstances.
If you have received what you considered to be substandard medical treatment or subsequently
discover that something is not right as a result of irregular symptoms coming to light at a later date.
Most common causes of medical negligence include misdiagnosis, incorrect medication prescribed or
incorrect dosage applied and poor aftercare.
Dangers of Incorrect Dosing
The NHS National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) recognises the inherent dangers of incorrect dosing.
The NPSA’s warnings about the potentially fatal consequences of incorrect dosing of oral anti-cancer
medicines is a good example of how important it is to receive a high standard of care at all times.
Surgical Checklist
There is always an element of risk attached to going into theatre for an operation, however routine
it happens to be.
Again, the NPSA is acutely aware of the dangers that patients face when they put their trust in the
medical staff who are going to be carrying out a surgical procedure.
The NPSA has championed the use of the WHO surgical safety checklist and implantation manual,
which provides comprehensive guidelines for surgical teams to follow, in order to reduce the prospect
of an error occurring.
Both the NPSA and WHO both conclude that any hospital that fails to use the surgical safety checklist
is endangering patient safety and advises all patients to check that the hospital they are being admitted
to, subscribes to following this checklist.
What to Do If You Suspect Negligence
If you believe that something is wrong or have a formal complaint to make about your treatment,
the NHS has a recognised complaints procedure, which is designed to resolve most issues on a
local basis.
If you feel that your grievance requires legal action and compensation, you should consult a claims
specialist who can review your case and advise you how to proceed.
About the Author:
Isabella Blackburn is a secretary for a busy law firm in the UK. She enjoys writing during her free time and recently discovered her love for sharing her knowledge with an online audience through blog and article writing.
Have you or someone you know experienced medical negligence or incorrect dosing?
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