If you have been the victim of medical negligence, you will be entitled to make a claim for compensation. But how do you know if you have a medical negligence claim? In this article we explore the subject in more detail, helping you to understand whether or not you could be eligible to financial redress.
Cauda Equina Syndrome and Medical Negligence Claims
Medical negligence claims will arise if medical professionals have provided a substandard level of medical care. We will use the rare but extremely serious condition of Cauda Equina Syndrome to demonstrate what we mean by a ‘substandard level of medical care’:-
Cauda Equina Syndrome is a medical emergency, meaning the condition must be diagnosed and urgent decompression surgery performed as soon as possible. If there is a delay in diagnosis and treatment, a patient will suffer permanent neurological complications including urinary dysfunction, long-lasting pain and possibly even paralysis.
If a patient does indeed sustain long-term damage because of Cauda Equina Syndrome, the question that must be asked is: what caused a patient to suffer injury? In some cases, it will be because a patient did not seek medical attention when his or her symptoms first appeared. In others, however, it will be because medical professionals failed to provide an acceptable level of care.
In terms of diagnosing and treating Cauda Equina Syndrome, an acceptable level of care would generally include doctors taking the following course of action:-
- Recognising a patient’s description of symptoms as being indicative of nerve compression;
- Performing a physical examination to help confirm or rule out suspected diagnosis of Cauda Equina Syndrome;
- Arrange urgent MRI scan if examination points towards Cauda Equina Syndrome;
- Organise and perform emergency decompression surgery if Cauda Equina Syndrome is diagnosed.
If doctors fail to provide medical care such as that described above, there could be case of medical negligence.
Contact A Cauda Equina Solicitor Without Delay
Therefore if you have been the victim of medical negligence, it can be said that the actions (or inactions) of medical professionals directly caused your injuries. If you believe this applies to you or a loved one, you must contact a medical negligence solicitor as soon as possible. As specialists in this area of the law, they will be able to listen to the details of your treatment before suggesting whether or not you are entitled to compensation for your Cauda Equina Syndrome care. This is the easiest way to find out if you are in a position to take legal action: all it takes is a single phone call.
Free, No Obligation Quote
For a free, no obligation quote about your Cauda Equina Syndrome medical care, contact us today at the Cauda Equina Solicitors. Will be able to answer any questions you may have, helping you to understand whether you can pursue a medical negligence claim.