Failure to treat a heart murmur.

You are here: Home » Failure to treat a heart murmur.

Can a compensation claim be made against a hospital or doctor for failure to treat a heart murmur?

A heart murmur is a recurring sound that a clinician can hear through a stethoscope. It is an extra sound alongside your regular heartbeat and is often described as a swishing sound. This noise occurs when blood does not flow smoothly through the valves when they open and close.

Although the sound may be innocent, it is important to listen out for heart murmurs because they are usually a sign of cardiac disease or damage. Contrary to popular belief, heart murmurs can be diagnosed in people of all ages, including children.

Many people with heart murmurs do not feel anything physically. However it is important to be aware of the symptoms that a heart murmur can cause. The main ones are:

  • Fainting
  • Dizziness
  • Chest pain
  • Shortness of breath
  • Sweating when you are resting
  • A cough that is continuous and does not improve
  • Swelling in the legs, arms or stomach

A heart murmur can be diagnosed in several ways, the most common being an ECG and Echocardiogram. It is important to diagnose heart murmurs right away as most will require treatment, even if you do not have an underlying heart condition.

Depending on the cause, a heart murmur can often be treated with medication, but sometimes surgery is required to replace or correct the heart valve.

Heart murmurs do not usually go away on their own. Failure to diagnose and subsequently treat a heart murmur can lead to heart failure due to the stress that is put on the heart. It can also lead to sudden cardiac death.

It is important to diagnose and treat heart murmurs due to the potential for them to end a patient’s life prematurely, when earlier intervention can be non-invasive and manageable.

Where a patient’s health is damaged by failure to treat a heart murmur, they may be entitled to pursue a compensation claim.

Our Legal 500 recommended lawyers deal with medical negligence claims nationwide on a No Win, No Fee basis. To find out where you stand just contact our free helpline for a review of your case.

Call 0333 888 0412 or email us at [email protected] 

Failure to treat a heart murmur.

Free Consultation

Get your free consultation by:

  1. Phoning our confidential helpline on freephone 0333 888 0412
  2. Sending details of your case to [email protected]
  3. Completing our online form:

How to Start Your Claim

Starting your medical negligence claim could not be simpler.

All you have to do is contact our friendly team for a free consultation. We will then walk you through the process. It's as easy as 1-2-3.

  1. We will assess the legal merits of your case, and tell you if we can assist.
  2. We will explain how No Win, No Fee funding works.
  3. When you are ready to go ahead, we will begin preparing your case.

What our clients say about us

We have over 1,200 reviews and an overall five-star rating on the independent legal review website, ReviewSolicitors.

Here is just a short selection of some of the reviews that our clients have left for our clinical negligence team:

Maddy Lawrence

“With the premature death of our eldest daughter, as it turned out, by clinical negligence, we were facing a very difficult journey both in proving fault and keeping heart and soul together. That we were able to, in terms of the fault element, was down to our professional legal team. They provided clear, calm and compassionate advice which got us through a horrendous inquest and subsequent legal maneuverers. They, in short, were magnificent and we are extremely grateful that we had them on our side.”

Great firm!

“I had an experience with Oliver Thorne who was nothing but helpful with settling my claim. He was very patient and professional as well as making sure I was happy and content throughout the whole process! Would highly recommend him if you’re looking for a solicitor!”

Compassionate, thorough, and outstanding legal support thus far

”Jade was incredibly friendly, taking the time to ask all the right questions and thoroughly investigate our case. Unlike previous solicitors, who dismissed us, Jade and the team at Slee Blackwell delved deeper and gave us renewed hope. We are extremely grateful for the dedication and professionalism in fighting for us. I would recommend Slee Blackwell to anyone in need of legal assistance.”

Mesh claim

“I cannot thank the team enough there understanding and empathy and the knowledge is outstanding. Caroline has been supportive every step of the way, she has informed me and kept me updated how the claim has progressed she has also had great understanding around my mental health and the physical damage I have occurred. I cannot thank the team enough. The team made this experience easier for me to deal with my emotional distress and pain.”

Thank you

“On behalf of all of us, we would like to thank you for your guidance, professionalism, humanity and kindness you have shown us all throughout this process. You have explained everything to us in clear and concise terms throughout and we are extremely grateful. We would have no hesitation recommending you and using your services in future. Thank you.”

Exceptional Service

“I have received expert advice throughout my case, the attention to detail is second to none. Their professional outlook and relatability means that I always recommend the firm. When I was unclear of any information or possible outcomes they took the time to speak with me on a personal level, confirming our conversation through email, I feel supported and understood and most of all they are empathetic, something that is often missing from large firms.”

Friendly, professional, knowledgeable.

“Oliver assisted me in the aftermath of my father’s sudden death in hospital. He helped me to draught my initial letter of complaint to the health authority, represented me and my mother at the inquest and ultimately succeeded in bringing a successful claim. I always felt I could approach Oliver with any questions and he would explain the legal processes in an understandable way. I would not hesitate to recommend him should anyone find themselves in a similar unfortunate position.”

Excellent solicitor

“I cannot recommend this firm highly enough and especially Caroline who is professional approachable and thorough, she works tirelessly and is a real credit to the firm, you are not made to feel like just a number as with other firms, it’s a pleasure to have such an excellent solicitor to represent you when you have gone through so much she is so understanding and knowledgeable.”

10 Reasons to Choose Our Team

  1. We are specialist clinical negligence solicitors who are recommended by the Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners legal guides.
  2. We offer a nationwide service.
  3. We have a five-star ranking on the independent legal review platform, ReviewSolicitors.
  4. Team leader Oliver Thorne is an accredited AvMA panel lawyer.
  5. We have been awarded Lexcel accreditation by the Law Society for excellence in client care.
  6. We offer a sympathetic, understanding and refreshingly jargon-free approach.
  7. We believe that clients should be treated as valued individuals, not a number or just another problem to be solved.
  8. We have close links with independent medical professionals, and can therefore ensure we get the best possible expert input for your claim.
  9. We operate a FREE medical negligence helpline which you can call on 0333 888 0412 for a free, no obligation consultation and case assessment. You can also contact our helpline by email at [email protected].
  10. We fund cases on a no win – no fee basis, so worries about legal costs should not put you off seeking justice.

Insights

Related news, blogs, information and case studies.

Related Posts

None found