Medical negligence, also known as clinical negligence, occurs when a healthcare professional provides care that falls below an acceptable standard. As a result, the patient suffers harm, injury, or unnecessary complications.
Although most medical treatment is delivered to a high standard, mistakes can and do happen. For this reason, it is important for patients and their families to understand the most common types of medical negligence and how they arise.
This guide explains the main forms of medical negligence and when a compensation claim may be possible.
Medical negligence can occur at almost any stage of diagnosis or treatment. Below are some of the most frequent examples.
One of the most common forms of medical negligence involves errors in diagnosis.
Both scenarios can lead to avoidable pain, complications, or death.
Surgical negligence can have serious and sometimes life-changing consequences. Common examples include:
These errors can result in severe injury, prolonged recovery, or further corrective surgery.
Medication mistakes are another frequent cause of medical negligence claims.
In either case, patients may suffer adverse reactions, worsening symptoms, or long-term harm.
Medical negligence during pregnancy, labour, or delivery can cause serious injuries to both mother and baby. Examples include:
These injuries often require lifelong care and support, making early legal advice essential.
Healthcare professionals have a duty to monitor patients and respond to changes in their condition. When warning signs are missed or ignored, patients may suffer avoidable harm.
For example, failing to act on abnormal observations or test results can lead to serious complications.
Patients may develop infections while receiving treatment due to poor hygiene or inadequate infection control measures. In some cases, these infections can be life-threatening, particularly for vulnerable patients.
Psychiatric negligence involves substandard care within mental health services. This may include misdiagnosis, inappropriate treatment, or failure to properly assess risk, resulting in harm to the patient.
Residents in care homes are entitled to safe and dignified care. However, negligence can occur when residents experience:
Such failures can lead to serious deterioration in health and wellbeing.
Errors in interpreting X-rays, MRIs, CT scans, or other imaging can lead to incorrect or delayed diagnoses. As a result, treatment may be postponed or entirely inappropriate.
In some cases, a patient’s condition requires specialist input. When a healthcare provider fails to make a timely referral, diagnosis and treatment may be delayed, causing avoidable harm.
If you believe that you or a loved one has been affected by medical negligence, it is important to seek advice from a solicitor experienced in clinical negligence claims.
A specialist solicitor can:
Understanding the different types of medical negligence is often the first step toward protecting your rights and holding healthcare providers accountable.
Our Medical Negligence Specialists at NJS Law are sympathetic, understanding, and highly experienced in handling a wide range of clinical negligence claims.
We offer a free, no-obligation consultation and will provide clear, practical advice tailored to your circumstances.
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