Medical negligence involving children
Our medical negligence
team specialise in paediatrics negligence. Our
specialist solicitors have secured compensation in many cases where
children have been the victim of medical and
clinical negligence.
Paediatric claims arise out of mistakes in the
treatment of children. There are a number of ways in which children
can be injured due to paediatric negligence
including:
- Birth injuries
- Cerebral palsy
- Erb’s palsy
- General
medicine
- Delay in diagnosis of a congenital or developmental hip
dysplasia resulting in permanent injury.
- Neonatology - dealing with diseases and illnesses in the first
few weeks and months of life
- Neurology - dealing with nervous system conditions such as
cerebral palsy, epilepsy, brain injury, hypoxia
- Endocrinology - dealing with hormone problems in children
including diabetes, thyroid problems and growth problems.
- Development - dealing with learning disability and physical
disability.
-
Failure to promptly identify, diagnose and treat serious and
fast acting infections such as meningitis, septicaemia,
osteomyelitis and tuberculosis
-
Failure to diagnose and treat asthmatic attacks or more chronic
illnesses such as childhood diabetes or epilepsy
-
Failure to identify and recognise the significance of headaches
and/or deteriorating sight leading to delays in diagnosis of
tumours
-
Maladministration of drugs and drug doses which can result in
permanent disability and sometimes death, to include chemotherapy
treatment
-
Failure to correctly identify and treat fractures, which can if
left undiagnosed, present a long-term consequence with uneven or
abnormal bone growth
-
Complications from tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy
-
Undiagnosed seizure disorders (infantile spasms, epilepsy and
pyridoxine deficiency)
-
Improper treatment of leukaemia
A large number of medical negligence claims
involving children relate to the treatment provided to them, often
during labour or at the time of their birth. Injury is often linked
to the circumstances surrounding labour and delivery and can
include oxygen depravation, injury caused by delayed instrumental
delivery, or inappropriate application, or excessive traction, when
using forceps or ventouse.
These types of medical negligence claims often
involve varying degrees of brain injury, skull fractures, Erbs
palsy and facial palsy. For further information on this type of
injury, please visit our birth injury
section.
There is another category of medical
negligence claim involving children which arises from errors in
treatment and delays in diagnosing typical childhood conditions,
illnesses and infections. If these conditions are left untreated
for any time then a permanent disability or death is very possible.
Young children are particularly at risk of injury arising out of
delayed diagnosis and incorrect treatment, as they often can't
communicate how they feel and often their symptoms are
overlooked.
Paediatric negligence claims
Paediatric negligence compensation claims are not limited to
negligence by a paediatrician. If your general practitioner,
obstetrician, nurse, orthopaedic surgeon or any healthcare
provider has been negligent in treating your child resulting
in an injury, then your child may be eligible for
compensation.
For further information or if you believe you
have a paediatrics negligence legal
claim, please contact our medical
negligence team on freephone 0800 358 3848,
email personalinjury@ffw.com or
complete our short enquiry form.
All initial enquiries are completely free of
charge and we will investigate all funding options for you
including legal aid and no win, no fee.