Is there is a lack of openness and willingness to admit when medical accidents have been made?
We are medical accident compensation lawyers, dealing with medical negligence claims on a national basis throughout England and Wales. Oliver Thorne who heads up our team has recently been appointed to the specialist clinical negligence lawyers panel of the campaign group, Action Against Medical Accidents (AvMA).
AvMA say that 45% of the enquiries they receive relate to the patients’ concerns about the lack of an explanation or an apology for what they have suffered when their treatment has not gone according to plan.
The medical accidents organisation also reports that the five most common complaints involved GPs, dentists, A&E services, orthopaedics and mental health.
AvMA’s conclusion is that patients believe there is ‘a lack of openness, honesty and willingness to admit when mistakes have been made.’
There is a suggestion that failing to deal with medical accidents openly often encourages patients to take legal action. If patients were to be provided with answers, and, where appropriate, an apology, at an earlier point then some legal proceedings might be avoided.
However, an apology is not always sufficient, particularly where the patient has suffered serious injury. In these cases appointing medical accident compensation lawyers to pursue a legal claim is the only way the patient is able to obtain justice. Not all patients who suffer medical negligence wish to claim compensation, but when they do Oliver and his team are able to offer access to a free helpline service and No Win – No Fee funding.
If you are contemplating a claim and would like to know where you stand, and whether No Win – No Fee funding is available to you, then speak to one of our specialist medical accident compensation lawyers by contacting our free legal helpline on 0333 888 0412 or emailing us at [email protected]