We've got your misdiagnosis claim covered
Medical Misdiagnosis Claims
Medical misdiagnosis forms the basis of the largest percentage of medical negligence compensation claims. The annual report from NHS Resolution indicated that there has been an increase in the number of claims owing to delays, cancellations and misdiagnosis reflecting longer waiting lists. The consequences of misdiagnosis can be devastating and can lead to delays in patients receiving the treatment they require.
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What Is a Misdiagnosis Claim?
A medical misdiagnosis can occur if your GP or another health professional provides you with an inaccurate or delayed diagnosis.
Whilst diagnosis may be difficult in some circumstances, a treating clinician has a duty to consider all reasonable causes for your condition and to take steps to exclude or confirm any potential diagnosis. Some conditions may have similar signs or symptoms and in those circumstances a “differential” diagnosis would be appropriate. We have a unique understanding of this area as we’ve had years of experience in dealing with all the different aspects of misdiagnosis claims and medical negligence.
What Are The Different Types of Medical Misdiagnosis Claims?
We have handled many different medical misdiagnosis compensation claims, including:
- Cancer Misdiagnosis
- Delayed Diagnosis
- Complete Misdiagnosis
Misdiagnosis can occur in many different forms but some of the most common that we see are:
- A serious illness is allowed to progress unchecked or without being correctly identified
- Wrong medication is prescribed due to the misdiagnosis of the condition. This could result in a worsening or prolonging of your ailment
- Test results are misinterpreted or not properly assessed
- Inadequate consideration is given to alternative or differential diagnoses
- Your treatment is delayed because of misdiagnosis so your condition gets worse
- Misdiagnosis in pregnancy related cases can result in damage to the mother and to the unborn baby particularly in relation to a failure to recognise early signs of infection
- A failure in diagnosing a fracture
For example, it could be that your fracture was missed during an X-ray or MRI, or that there was a failure in conducting adequate tests and investigations. A fracture misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis could negatively impact the outcome of your treatment, increase recovery time, and in some circumstances lead to serious complications. Our client was awarded £17,500 by his NHS Trust after they failed to identify a stress fracture.
Claiming Cancer Misdiagnosis Compensation
Cancer misdiagnosis can be detrimental to a person’s wellbeing, particularly if the total misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis impacts your long-term health or leads to additional medical costs.
This is a specialist claim type that requires dedicated legal expertise. Our solicitors are experts in medical negligence and have handled many cancer misdiagnosis claims successfully. Because of the complex nature of diagnosing a disease such as cancer, misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis can unfortunately happen.
If there has been a delayed or missed diagnosis, then this can result in cancer progressing with a limitation of the available treatment options. In such cases, we can help to determine when cancer should have been diagnosed and how this affected your outcome to your detriment.
What Common Conditions Are Misdiagnosed On The NHS?
Many common conditions can be diagnosed incorrectly. This is because the symptoms of cancer and other conditions can mimic the symptoms of different diseases. This is particularly common during initial visits to the GP when symptoms are in their early stages. These conditions can include but are not limited to:
- Pancreatic cancer misdiagnosed as gallstones
- Ovarian cancer misdiagnosed as cysts
- Lymphoma misdiagnosed as various other illnesses
- Skeletal injury being treated as muscular pain
How To Make A Medical Misdiagnosis Claim
We know how stressful and consuming a legal claim can be and that’s why we’re here to take that stress away from you, and deal with your claim in a smooth and efficient manner. Our expert legal team will not only fight for justice for you, but will also be on hand to offer advice and support throughout your case – whether that be related to your claim, recovery and rehabilitation needs, or just to answer any questions you may have.
To start your claim, contact our specialist team and they will discuss your case with you.
No Win No Fee Medical Misdiagnosis Claims
If you suffer a misdiagnosis, we don’t want you to worry about the expense of legal fees. No matter the claim, we always adopt a ‘No Win No Fee’ approach with misdiagnosis being no exception.
If your claim is accepted, our expert legal team will fight for your case because we believe everyone has the right to fair legal representation.
If the case is successful, we will retain a small percentage in accordance with our upfront agreement with you at the start of your claim.
EXAMPLES OF MISDIAGNOSIS CASES
Medical Negligence solicitor, Rebecca Dawson, recently settled a serious degenerative spinal injury misdiagnosis case.
The client, who suffered many years of incontinence and leg spasms, was told by his local NHS Trust that his symptoms were inconclusive, and that he wouldn’t be given an MRI because the neurologist believed he had restless leg syndrome.
But for the persistence of Rebecca and her team, the client would now be entirely wheelchair dependent. Despite the Trust failing to admit negligence, overwhelming medical evidence seen at a hearing meant that over £1 million, as part of a misdiagnosis compensation package, was awarded.
In January 2008, another client was diagnosed with progressive transformation of germinal centres (“PTGC”).
On second viewing, there had been a negligent failure to correctly diagnose and treat our client, causing injury and loss. Treatment was not given in 2008, and the disease transformed into an aggressive B-cell Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
“If our client had been correctly diagnosed with nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2008, he would have been treated with involved field radiotherapy, possibly with the addition of two cycles of chemotherapy.”
Patient Claim Line’s Daniel Finney
WHAT DO OUR CLIENTS SAY?
“I have been extremely happy with my solicitor dealing with my case. Right from the outset I have felt that he understood how upset I was and the traumatic experience I had gone through.”
Mrs. Angela Jane Passey
“I feel very understood and very helped. I feel there has been no judgments towards me. They always emailed me back quickly and professionally. I find the services very helpful.”
Miss Jamie-Leigh Mackintosh
“Amy was so helpful and understanding, she kept me informed and included me in all the decisions. It has been easy and effortless; I feel I have been looked after and a brilliant outcome. I would definitely recommend your company.”
Ms. Julie Allyson Bell
Medical Misdiagnosis FAQs
Meet the team
Georgia Briscoe
Director of Legal Strategy and Transformation
Georgia is one of our Directors of Medical Negligence and has an impressive wealth of knowledge. She has over 15 years of legal experience and is responsible for overseeing the whole medical negligence team.
Georgia prides herself on the development of her team and aims to ensure that everyone in the department shares the same passion, tenacity and drive to get the best possible result for the injured patient.
Georgia is in charge of the day to day operational running of our largest medical negligence department, working hard to ensure a self-sustainable future for the team. Georgia is heavily involved in developing Fletchers’ nationwide reputation as medical negligence experts, alongside ensuring that all of our cases are dealt with the utmost efficiency and professionalism.
Email meWhy Choose Patient Claim Line for your Medical Misdiagnosis claim?
Not just lawyers — medical negligence experts
Patient Claim Line was established in 2014 and consists of a team of medical lawyers specialising in medical negligence and misdiagnosis claims.
At Patient Claim Line we have more than 100 solicitors with combined experience of over 400 years and they will work on your behalf to achieve the best result possible for you.
It's not enough to use a solicitor who sometimes covers medical negligence. You need someone who knows this area through and through. That is what the solicitors here at Patient Claim Line do. They deal exclusively in this area of law and are experts in the field.
Meet the team
Georgia Briscoe
Director of Legal Strategy and Transformation
Georgia is one of our Directors of Medical Negligence and has an impressive wealth of knowledge. She has over 15 years of legal experience and is responsible for overseeing the whole medical negligence team.
Georgia prides herself on the development of her team and aims to ensure that everyone in the department shares the same passion, tenacity and drive to get the best possible result for the injured patient.
Georgia is in charge of the day to day operational running of our largest medical negligence department, working hard to ensure a self-sustainable future for the team. Georgia is heavily involved in developing Fletchers’ nationwide reputation as medical negligence experts, alongside ensuring that all of our cases are dealt with the utmost efficiency and professionalism.
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Bilal Qasim
Team Leader/Senior Solicitor
Having joined Patient Claim Line in 2017, Bilal is a Clinical Negligence Solicitor with extensive experience in the medical negligence field. He has recently qualified as an internationally and nationally accredited mediator, recognised by the Civil Mediation Council, International Mediation Institute and Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. Bilal has been recognised for his excellent client work, having received the ‘Customer Award’ at our annual awards evening.
Having had continuous exposure to medical negligence claims throughout his career, Bilal has developed a large skillset, enabling him to bring matters to time-efficient, amicable solutions. Bilal completes a formal assessment of each case and strategically plans the progression of the case, ensuring all cases within his team run smoothly and that our customers receive the justice they deserve.
Bilal was also the recipient of the Customer Feedback Champion award in 2019.
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Jennifer Argent
Medical Negligence Solicitor
Jennifer joined the team in 2018 with a wealth of experience of working in Medical Negligence in several firms across the North of England. As a Solicitor, Jennifer has an in-depth knowledge of the law and a recognition of the suffering that customers have already been through and the support that they may need through their claim. She works efficiently to achieve the best outcome for her customers. She has a wide range of experience within Medical Negligence and has particular expertise in delayed diagnoses of cancer, shoulder and eye injuries.
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Hannah Luscombe
Team Leader/Senior Solicitor
Hannah joined our Medical Negligence Department in February 2017, managing with a wide-ranging caseload with a particular interest in fatal claims.
Now, as a Senior Solicitor, Hannah supervises and develops junior members of her team and takes immense pride in delivering excellent client care and establishing a rapport with her clients to provide support throughout the claims process.
Above all, Hannah stands tall as a brilliant example of compassion and professionalism, inspiring many around her to strive for the highest standards of excellence.
Email meSarah's Story
"Now we have peace of mind"
My husband, Nick, went back and forth to the doctors for a long time and tried everything the doctor recommended. But his illness got worse, to the point that he was in agony.
In the end we got so desperate that we asked for a referral. The doctor was reluctant, so we had to consult a private hospital. That’s when we found out there was a tumour. It took years from the onset of his illness to finally start cancer treatment.
He used to be a man with a lot to live for, but in the end he was in so much pain that he withdrew from the family. He became angry that nobody had helped him sooner, and the legal team were able to give him the validation that he was desperately seeking. The NHS confirmed if they had done more, Nick would still be alive today.