Surgical Injury Claims

Every year thousands of people enter hospital for routine operations, cosmetic surgery and emergency procedures. We place a lot of trust in the doctors, surgeons and nurses who treat us, and the level of care we receive is usually of an exceptionally high standard.

However in rare cases medical experts can make mistakes and the consequences of these errors can be severe.

Injuries that can occur from surgical procedures

Most surgical procedures are complex and the risks involved can be numerous. Below are some of the surgical errors we've encountered that could lead to a medical negligence claim:

• Infections caught through the surgery
• Organs being damaged during surgery that shouldn't have been touched
• Disproportionate and inappropriate scarring
• Retained surgical instruments
• Nerve damage
• Paralysis
• Wrong site - incorrect limb etc.

How long after my operation can I claim?

Like most medical negligence claims, if you have an injury you will have a three year period from the date of your operation in which to claim.

If you were not aware of the injury straight after the surgery and problems occurred at a later date, then the three year time limit would start from the date you were aware of the injury.

Making Surgical Negligence Claims

The first step in pursuing a claim is generally to access your medical records and details of the operation. This can help to prove whether any information pertaining to your health was overlooked by medical staff during your surgery.

You may then need to be assessed by another doctor (in order to obtain a second opinion) to establish the extent of your injuries, and to prove that any mistakes made in the operating theatre could have been avoided.

Avoidable complications which arise as a result of surgical negligence can cause untold stress and trauma, not to mention preventing you from getting back to living your normal life. Worries about your finances, long-term care and your future can all arise as a result of such errors.

So if you believe your health has been affected due to errors during a medical procedure, it's possible that you could be entitled to compensation and you should contact us for advice. You can call us on 08000 93 00 94 or send us an Online Claim Enquiry.