Do You Know The 5 Main Reasons That A Wrong Amputation Leads To A Medical Negligence Claim?



Posted: Thursday, June 11, 2009

by Nick Jervis
Samson Consulting Limited

If you have already undergone surgery for an amputation you will have to come to terms with the situation. However, coming to terms with the amputation can be even harder if you subsequently discover that it was unnecessary or was carried out negligently. What, if anything, can you to about your wrong amputation. How do you know whether you can make a medical negligence claim? Here we look at the 5 main reasons why a wrong amputation can allow you to make a successful medical negligence claim.

1. Amputation Of The Wrong Limb

Despite the many advances in medical history over the years, people still make very basic and fundamental mistakes that can have incredibly serious consequences. The most straightforward reason for a wrong amputation is when the surgeon simply marks and removes the wrong limb. These types of medical negligence claims are so difficult to deal with as if the wrong limb is removed, a further operation is then required to amputate the limb that was meant to be removed in the first place.

2. Misdiagnosis Of Cancer

If cancer is diagnosed in one of your limbs and there is a fear that it will spread, one of the options is complete removal of the limb. If you have an amputation and on subsequent inspection it is discovered that there was no cancer present at all, you may well be able to make a successful medical negligence claim.

3. Misdiagnosis Of Risks Of Spreading

Similar to the reason above, if cancer is diagnosed and removal recommended to ensure that it does not spread, it might subsequently be discovered that there was no risk of the cancer spreading. Once again, this is another misdiagnosis leading to an amputation that can lead to a medical negligence claim.

4. Surgical Error

If you sustain an injury to one of your limbs due to a car or motorcycle accident, the surgeon might deem your injuries so severe that the limb needs to be amputated. However, if after the amputation it is subsequently discovered that a repair could have been successfully made to the limb, thereby avoiding the need for the amputation at all, you may be able to make a medical negligence claim.

5. Negligent Medical Treatment

If a surgeon is carrying out an operation on one of your limbs and causes further injury to the limb this can lead to the limb being amputated. If the surgeons treatment amounts to medical negligence this can lead to a claim for compensation.

Conclusion

These are just some of the more common reasons for a medical negligence claim following an amputation but there are many more.

--------

Visit Glynns Website where you can download a free guide to medical negligence claims: Medical Negligence Solicitors
Need Bath Solicitors now?
Nick Jervis is a solicitor (non-practising) and a consultant to Glynns Solicitors.
This Article has been viewed 987 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
No comments yet.
We want your comments! If you can read this, you don't have javascript enabled, so you can't use this comment system. Please enable javascript.