Medical negligence. All you need to know about making a medical negligence claim from leading personal injury lawyers Irwin Mitchell.

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1 Medical negligence Personal Injury All you need to know about making a medical negligence claim from leading personal injury lawyers Irwin Mitchell.

2 Thank you so much for handling my case so well. You came to know us at a great time of sadness and you were so kind. We will always remember you as very professional but also very warm hearted. Sylvia This information relates to the law and procedures in England and Wales. Please contact us if you need advice about the law and procedure in other legal jurisdictions.

3 Contents Introduction What is medical negligence? Why use Irwin Mitchell? When can I make a claim? What if someone has died? How much will it cost? How much compensation will I get? What happens when I claim? What else can we help you with? Useful contacts

4 Introduction We understand medical negligence. With years of experience working with people who have suffered injury or illness because of their medical treatment, we appreciate what you are going through and know exactly what needs to be done to help you get the compensation you deserve. I would like to thank you personally for your hard work, which was at times beyond the call of duty, Irwin Mitchell as a company have been outstanding, as was the whole legal team that worked on this case. Ron

5 5 If you have suffered illness or injury as a result of unprofessional medical treatment you may be able to claim compensation. Example cases include: Incorrect diagnosis Incorrect treatment Important symptoms ignored A delay in diagnosis or treatment Failure of a medical product or device. We have one of the UK s largest and most experienced teams of specialist medical negligence solicitors. We have helped thousands of people claim compensation and this experience means we can give you the support, understanding and advice you need. As well as fighting fearlessly to help you get the compensation you deserve, we can arrange for medical reports to be written and seek expert opinions on your treatment and injuries. We can also try to get you an early payment from your compensation so that you can pay your bills or for private treatment to help you to recover as quickly as possible. Above all, we put you first. To talk to a specialist advisor today simply call free on or text CLAIM to and someone will call you back

6 What is medical negligence? Medical negligence happens when doctors or other health professionals cause illness or injury by doing something wrong. It often involves a breach of duty of care and sometimes an infringement of human rights. Duty of care Medical professionals owe their patients what is known as a duty of care. As a patient you are entitled to expect reasonable standards and if these are not met, you may be able to claim compensation if it can be proved that your doctor or other health professionals have committed a breach of their duty of care. Faulty kit Not all medical accidents happen because a professional has done something wrong. Sometimes a medical product such as a drug or a device like a heart valve or pacemaker can be faulty or fail.

7 7 We have a wide range of experience in product liability claims in areas including: Blood products Breast implants Cataract lens implants Drugs Heart valves Human Growth Hormone Replacement hips. For help with any of these types of claims give our friendly professional staff a call. Human rights Everybody has human rights. In cases where an injury has occurred as a result of medical negligence, these rights have often been compromised. Here are a few examples of what the Human Rights Law states: Article 2 protects the right to life and can be cited when patients have received below-standard care, have been refused expensive drugs or have not been fed. Article 2 also demands that any untoward or unexpected deaths must be fully investigated, usually through an inquest Article 3 forbids inhuman or degrading treatment. This may be relevant if you did not give proper consent for treatment. It can also support cases where vulnerable people, such as the elderly or mental health patients, did not receive adequate treatment Article 8 states that there must be respect for private and family life and can be quoted in cases where confidential medical information has been disclosed Article 14 bans discrimination of any kind and can be important in cases where age-based rationing of healthcare has taken place or patients have been discriminated against in any way. To talk to a specialist advisor today simply call free on or text CLAIM to and someone will call you back

8 Why use Irwin Mitchell? Irwin Mitchell is one of the largest and most experienced personal injury law firms in the country. Our reputation for helping people with medical negligence claims is second to none and every year we recover millions of pounds of compensation for people who have suffered in this way.

9 9 Our service Employing many of the country s finest personal injury lawyers, our highly specialised team combines powerful legal arguments with care and consideration to ensure the best possible outcome for you. Our friendly professional service includes: An early investigation of who is to blame Early compensation payments where possible to pay for private healthcare and rehabilitation Expert advice on state benefits, your employment rights and other financial issues Expert support for you to access rehabilitation and therapy services Help if you need it from solicitors in our other departments, such as financial planning, personal injury trusts, wills advice, power of attorney, education and social care needs advice. Campaign for improvements At Irwin Mitchell we have a long history of campaigning for improvements to medical care. Our aim is to help develop medical procedures and improve quality of life and levels of compensation for those who have suffered. We are also sponsors and fundraisers for several leading charities and support groups - and a large number of our team volunteer their skills at national, local and individual level. To talk to a specialist advisor today simply call free on or text CLAIM to and someone will call you back

10 When can I make a claim? Normally adults must make a claim within three years of the date they first knew or suspected that they were injured as a result of medical negligence. Variations However, that limit can vary and may be shorter or extended depending on the circumstances of your case. You should also be aware that any claims brought under the Human Rights Act must be started within one year of the incident taking place.

11 11 Do I have a case? If you are unsure whether you have a claim, you or a family member just needs to pick up the phone and talk it over with us. We ll assess your case free of charge, tell you what we think and then you can decide if you want to go ahead. We are also able to take cases over from other lawyers. We have helped many people who have been dissatisfied with the advice or service they have received from their lawyers, achieving the best possible outcome in all aspects of their claim including access to medical care, rehabilitation and compensation. What are my chances of winning? We have a long track record of winning compensation cases where the client initially thought they did not have a claim. When you contact us we will give you realistic advice on the chances of winning based on the information you provide. It is not possible to give a definitive answer on any case. However, the more information we have the more accurate an assessment we can make. We will always give you an honest, straightforward opinion. To talk to a specialist advisor today simply call free on or text CLAIM to and someone will call you back

12 What if someone has died? If a person dies whilst receiving medical treatment and those treating them failed to provide the necessary care, an inquest may be held to find out how and why they died. If this happens, relatives should seek legal advice before the inquest takes place. I would like to say thank you very much for all your efforts and hard work on my behalf and how pleased I am with the outcome. It is the best part of five years since I first contacted you and I knew immediately that I had made the right choice. You have always been extremely professional, patient and understanding of my situation and I couldn t have wished for anybody better to represent me. Terry

13 13 Inquests If someone you love has died in the course of medical treatment, it is likely that their death will be investigated by an inquest. Inquests can prove vital in helping to highlight problems within the system and as a result, make sure that medical systems are changed to avoid other families having to suffer in the way that you have. They also play an important role when the deaths of patients who are kept in hospital or in secure units under the Mental Health Act are investigated. It is crucial to seek legal advice before an inquest takes place. This will give your solicitor the chance to get medical records and other documents from the coroner before the court hearing. They will also be able to ask witnesses questions during the hearing and because inquests are public hearings, often attracting press and media attention, they will ensure your interests are properly protected. Depending on what evidence comes to light during the inquest, you may be able to pursue a subsequent claim for bereavement and economic dependency arising from the loss of life. Your solicitor will go through all the options with you after the inquest. To talk to a specialist advisor today simply call free on or text CLAIM to and someone will call you back

14 How much will it cost? Don t worry about legal costs there might not be any. Contacting us for initial advice on your claim will cost you nothing even our phone number is free to call. If we advise you to pursue a claim with us, we will review all the options for funding it. These include: Public Funding Only law firms that have been approved by the Legal Services Commission and have been awarded a Clinical Negligence Franchise can request public funding for their clients. Thankfully, we are one of them. If you have a medical negligence claim we will write to the Legal Services Commission, or Scottish Legal Aid Board, on your behalf to try and secure public funding for your claim. Children who have suffered medical negligence can pursue claims if represented by an adult. Most children are eligible for public funding.

15 15 Legal Expenses Insurance (LEI) As part of your household and motor insurance you may have LEI cover to bring a medical negligence claim. We are panel solicitors for most LEI providers and can act for you under such as policy. No cost to you If you are not eligible for public funding or LEI cover our preferred option is our No Cost To You scheme, which you may know better as a No Win, No Fee agreement. That means: if you win you keep 100% of your compensation* if you lose you pay nothing** there are no hidden costs. * Does not apply to group actions, accidents and illnesses outside England and Wales, criminal injury claims and untraced driver claims and is subject to compliance with the terms of your funding arrangements. ** Subject to entering a No Win, No Fee agreement with us and complying with its terms. To talk to a specialist advisor today simply call free on or text CLAIM to and someone will call you back

16 How much compensation will I get? The amount of compensation you receive will depend on how seriously you have been injured, how that injury has affected your life, how much money you have lost or will lose as a consequence - and whether you will need extra support in the future. We as a family can t find the right words to thank you for everything. We are so grateful for what you have achieved for Luke and it s such a relief to know his future is secure. Kevin

17 17 Individually assessed We will advise you at the outset on how courts approach the assessment of compensation and how that will apply to your case. However, it is important to bear in mind that everyone is different and the consequences of the same injury will vary from person to person. Keeping you informed As we learn more about you and your circumstances, we will be able to provide a more accurate idea of the financial value of your claim. You can be assured that we will do everything we can to recover the maximum amount of compensation available to you and organise payment terms to suit your immediate and ongoing needs. To talk to a specialist advisor today simply call free on or text CLAIM to and someone will call you back

18 What happens when I claim? Once you have instructed us to claim on your behalf, we will investigate your case thoroughly by gathering witness statements and other relevant details about your injury or illness and on-going requirements. We found you very professional as well as approachable, helpful and caring. We can now move on and look forward to a more stable and secure future. I am sure that this would not have happened without yourselves being involved. Jayne

19 19 Review Once your witness statement, medical records and hospital background documents have been collated they will be referred to a number of medical experts. These experts will review your details and give their opinion on the standard of care that you received. After this has happened it is likely that your solicitor will arrange a meeting with the medical experts to discuss all of the information and establish if you have grounds to pursue a claim against those who treated you. This will be a joint decision and based on a number of factors. You will also have the opportunity to question the experts about any aspect of your treatment. If there is not enough information for the experts to give their opinion, or if they think you were not treated negligently, you will then be given the opportunity to talk through your treatment so that they have a better understanding of the medical care that you received. If they are confident that you do have a case, your solicitor will start court proceedings. Out of court The vast majority of cases are settled before they go to court. However, if your case is one of the few that is to be decided by a judge don t worry: it s perfectly normal and we ll be there to help you every step of the way. To talk to a specialist advisor today simply call free on or text CLAIM to and someone will call you back

20 What else can we help you with? We don t just specialise in medical negligence. Irwin Mitchell has dedicated teams working in all areas of personal legal services, enabling us to deliver quick and efficient legal advice on anything from settling family disputes and wills or buying a house. Our ability to offer clients a wide range of such specialism under one roof is one of the key benefits of our services. I should like to take this opportunity to thank you for all your hard work in settling Gerald s claim. It has obviously been a very difficult time for me, and it has been much easier dealing with someone who has been so helpful and compassionate. Barbara

21 21 Our friendly professional staff give straightforward honest advice in all areas of personal legal services including: Buying or selling a house Divorce, children and family matters Employment difficulties Financial planning including tax and trusts Personal injury or illness Planning or environmental decisions Questioning social, education and health care provision Support on making decisions about personal welfare and healthcare matters and how the Court of Protection can assist Wills, trust and probate services. Whatever your legal issue our specialist staff will be pleased to help you sort it out all you need to do is pick up the phone and give us a call. To talk to a specialist advisor today simply call free on or text CLAIM to and someone will call you back

22 Useful contacts APIL (Association of Personal Injury Lawyers) 3 Alder Court Rennie Hogg Road Nottingham NG2 1RX Telephone: mail@apil.org.uk Website: AvMA (Action against Medical Accidents) 44 High Street Croydon Surrey CR0 1YB Telephone: advice@avma.org.uk Website: Contact a Family City Road London EC1V 1JN Telephone: helpline@cafamily.org.uk Website: Cruse Bereavement Care PO Box 800 Richmond Surrey TW9 1RG Telephone: helpline@cruse.org.uk Website:

23 23 SCOPE 6 Market Road London N7 9PW Telephone: response@scope.org.uk Website: The Children s Society Edward Rudolf House Margery Street London, WC1X 0JL Telephone: supporteraction@childrenssociety.org.uk Website: The Meningitis Trust Head Office Fern House Bath Road Stroud GL5 3TJ Telephone: info@meningitis-trust.org Website: The Patients Association PO Box 935 Harrow Middlesex HA1 3YJ Telephone: helpline@patients-association.com Website: To talk to a specialist advisor today simply call free on or text CLAIM to and someone will call you back

24 Looking for help with a claim? Freephone Text claim to and someone will call you back Irwin Mitchell Birmingham Imperial House, 31 Temple Street, B2 5DB Bristol One Castlepark, Tower Hill, BS2 0JA Glasgow 5th Floor, 150 St Vincent Street, G2 5NE Leeds 2 Wellington Place, LS1 4BZ London 40 Holborn Viaduct, EC1N 2PZ Manchester Bauhaus Rossetti Place, 27 Quay Street, M3 4AW Newcastle upon Tyne Gainsborough House, Grey Street, NE1 6AE Sheffield Riverside East, 2 Millsands, S3 8DT Irwin Mitchell Consulting Office Leicester Suite 122, 1st Floor, Gateway House, 4 Pennman Way, Grove Business Park, Enderby, LE19 1SY Irwin Mitchell Abogados Madrid Torre Picasso, Plaza Pablo Ruiz Picasso 1, 11B, Madrid 28020, Spain Málaga Calle Puerta del Mar 15, 2º, Málaga, Spain 2011 Consultations are by appointment only. Irwin Mitchell LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England & Wales, with number OC343897, and is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. All Scottish cases will be handled by a separate Scottish legal practice, Irwin Mitchell Scotland LLP, which is regulated by the Law Society of Scotland.