An otolaryngology negligence claim seeks compensation when you experience medical negligence in the treatment of your ear, nose, and throat issues. You expect professional medical treatment from an ENT specialist, not medical negligence. 

Medical negligence is when you experience medical care below a standard that any other medical professional would provide in similar circumstances. It is medical care that has delayed treatment, made your ear, nose and throat issues worse and caused you unnecessary suffering. 

Your medical professional owes you a duty of care when treating you. If they breach that duty of care in your treatment, you may have an otolaryngology negligence claim. 

The Medical Negligence Team solicitor can make your compensation claim when you suffer otolaryngology negligence.

Otolaryngology Negligence Claim

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What is Otolaryngology Negligence?

Otolaryngology negligence is below acceptable standard medical treatment when you have an issue with the ears, nose, and throat. You could suffer otolaryngology negligence if the consultant misses the signs of throat cancer, damages your nose during surgery or causes an onset of deafness. 

Otolaryngology is the medical subject of the ears, nose, and throat. If you have a throat complaint, an issue with deafness, or a sinus problem, you may need to see an otolaryngologist, who may be commonly known as an ENT specialist. 

A recent survey of NHS Resolution claims reports that 43% of ENT compensation claims were for head and neck surgery, with the balance split between ear and nose negligence at 28% each. 

59% of all otolaryngology claims are related to surgery to the ears, nose, and throat areas. 25% of claims for ENT negligence were related to delays in diagnosis, and 19% were due to delays in treatment. 

The Medical Negligence team can look at your case and see if you have a valid otolaryngology negligence compensation claim.

Medical Negligence Claim Assessment

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Common Otolaryngology Negligence claims

Common otolaryngology negligence claims range from failures to diagnose a sinus issue to errors in ear surgery and a delay in treatment for throat cancer. If you suffer otolaryngology negligence, you can make a compensation claim for the effects on your life today and in the future. 

Otolaryngology negligence can cause you unnecessary suffering, could affect your ability to work and may have you needing long-term medical care. You seek compensation for the effects of an otolaryngology claim for medical negligence. 

Common otolaryngology negligence claims are:

  • Failure to diagnose throat cancer claim
  • Errors during nose surgery claim
  • Damage to the ear during routine treatment claim
  • Misdiagnosis of an otolaryngology condition claim
  • Failure to treat an otolaryngology condition

Failure to diagnose throat cancer

A failure to diagnose throat cancer can lead to the cancer getting worse, delays in beginning treatment for throat cancer and more time receiving treatment than may be necessary. 

A failure to diagnose throat cancer can happen when:

  • The otolaryngologist fails to refer you for further tests
  • The ENT specialist makes an error when reviewing test results
  • The otolaryngologist misses the signs of throat cancer during an examination

If you develop throat cancer after the otolaryngologist fails to diagnose it, you may have an otolaryngology claim for compensation.

Errors during nose surgery claim

An errors during nose surgery claim can seek compensation when you suffer below professional treatment during what can be intricate surgery to the nasal area. 

The area in and around the nose is connected with other parts of the face, and medical negligence could cause many issues. 

Errors during nose surgery claims:

  • Nose surgery error causes problems with smell and taste
  • Nose surgery error damages facial nerves
  • Nose surgery error damages the structure of the nose

Any error during nose surgery can affect the nose and surrounding areas of the face. You may have an otolaryngology negligence claim if you suffer an error when undergoing nasal surgery.

Damage to the ear during routine treatment claim

Damage to the ear during routine treatment can leave the patient with long-term hearing issues, and the patient may have a claim for compensation. The ear is very sensitive, and damage to the ear can affect the patient for life. 

Damage to the ear claims:

  • Routine examination of the inner ear ruptures the eardrum
  • Negligent ear surgery causes tinnitus and other inner ear issues
  • Loss of hearing due to failure to diagnose inner ear infection in a child

Any damage to the ear may affect your hearing, cause headaches and nerve issues, and even cause deafness in young children. 

You may be able to seek compensation in an otolaryngology claim for medical negligence.

Misdiagnosis of an otolaryngology condition claim

A misdiagnosis of an otolaryngology condition claim is common in medical negligence, and the effects of it may be with the patient for life. The ENT specialist owes you a duty of care, and if they breach that duty of care, you may have an otolaryngology negligence claim. 

Misdiagnosis of an otolaryngology condition may be:

  • Misdiagnosis of ear cancer as an inner ear infection claim
  • Misdiagnosis of a nasal tumour as a treatable sinus infection claim
  • Misdiagnosis of throat cancer as a persistent throat infection

The misdiagnosis of an otolaryngology condition can lead to the missing of a cancer diagnosis and the delay in beginning suitable treatment for the actual condition.

You may have an otolaryngology negligence claim for compensation if you suffer a misdiagnosis of an ENT condition that develops into a severe issue such as chronic infection or cancer.

Failure to treat an otolaryngology condition claim

A failure to treat an otolaryngology condition may lead to the condition worsening, a need for more intensive treatment, and possibly living with the issue for life. ENT issues can quickly spread to other parts of the head and neck area, affecting your ability to work, exercise, and even sleep. 

Failure to treat an otolaryngology condition claims:

  • Failure to refer a patient for surgery on a nasal passage issue claim
  • Failure to prescribe medication for an inner ear infection claim
  • Failure to treat sleep apnoea claim

A failure to treat an otolaryngology issue could worsen the nasal passage issue and affect the facial nerves, as well as an inner ear infection that could develop into sepsis or could have sleep apnoea leading to a cardiac problem. 

Any otolaryngology negligence claim will seek compensation for the effects of the medical negligence on your life today and in the future. 

A No Win No Fee medical negligence solicitor can make your otolaryngology negligence claim and seek to get you the compensation you deserve.

Compensation for Otolaryngology Negligence

You can seek compensation for otolaryngology negligence in amounts from the low £10,000s to over £10 million in some cases. The medical negligence by the ENT specialist or otolaryngologist may be due to the pressure of their work or by not giving you the care needed, but the error can have many effects on you, and you can claim for those effects today and in the future.

The compensation awarded when your ear, nose and throat specialist fails to diagnose throat cancer at an early stage or misses the signs of a severe inner ear infection depends on several factors, such as how much discomfort and disruption you experience in your life today and in the future.

Claims sometimes see high awards, such as when the patient suffers damage to their sense of taste and sense of smell during nasal surgery or the missed infection in the throat damages the vocal cords in a case of otolaryngology negligence. 

Compensation for otolaryngology negligence can see awards of:

  • Negligence by the paramedic misses the skull fracture – £55,6000
  • Negligence by the A&E doctor delays skull fracture diagnosis – £3,400
  • Negligence by the orthopaedic surgeon during skull fracture surgery -£72,900
  • Negligence by the GP in the diagnosis of a skull fracture – £88,100
  • Negligence by the post skull fracture surgery care team – £95,800

All amounts are approximate and are only a guide to what is possible in an otolaryngology negligence claim. Figures can be high in some claims as you or a loved one could need long-term care, and you may face medical bills for life due to a misdiagnosis of ear cancer or a doctor making a missed diagnosis of a throat infection.

compensation claim calculator

You may be able to claim for these care expenses and the medical costs in the future with an otolaryngology negligence compensation case. 

As in all medical negligence claims, each case is dealt with on merit and how much the patient suffers due to the medical negligence by the ENT consultant. 

A No Win No Fee medical negligence solicitor will be the one to advise you on an otolaryngology negligence claim. They will know from experience what your case may be worth and how to make a successful compensation claim.

Our Process

Our team members have a higher career win rate with a 75% success rate on NHS letters of claim, compared to an industry average of 54.5%.

Enquiry

The first step is to get in touch and tell us what went wrong. It’s free and easy. Call our 24-hour helpline: 0800 246 1122 or request a callback here.

Medical Evaluation

Once you have spoken with our team we’ll let you know how we can help. Typically the next step is to obtain your medical records for us to review.

Legal Letter

Once all your medical records have been received they will be reviewed by a medically & legally qualified member of our team. If there is evidence of negligence we will send a letter of claim to the negligent party outlining your compensation claim.

Who is eligible for compensation in an otolaryngology negligence claim?

The patient who suffers pain, disability, or anxiety and sees their condition getting worse due to otolaryngology negligence may be eligible to claim compensation. A misdiagnosis of throat cancer or missed ear infection can cause you to face avoidable medical treatment, and you may be able to claim compensation. 

Medical negligence has made you ill, and the poor medical treatment may also affect your recovery and your time in recovery. A patient can claim compensation for the effects of the medical negligence on their life today and in the future.

The patient is the one to suffer due to the damage to their vocal cords or loss of taste and sense of smell. Any error in an ENT cancer misdiagnosis may cause the condition to get a lot worse or even put the patient’s life in danger. 

Medical negligence may lead to psychological trauma, unnecessary pain, and disability. The patient, though, may be unable to claim due to the effects of the medical negligence, and their dependants may be able to make the compensation claim. 

The loved ones in an otolaryngology negligence case are known as ‘dependents’ and can be:

  • A spouse or former spouse of the injured person
  • Someone who lived with the patient for two years as a husband, wife, or civil partner.
  • Blood children adopted children or those who became children through marriage or civil partnership
  • Parents and those acting as parents, such as a guardian or step-parents
  • Grandparents or great-grandparents
  • Brothers, sisters, cousins, and other direct relatives

When you have an otolaryngology negligence claim, your No Win No Fee medical negligence solicitor can help make the case for compensation.

What can you claim for in an otolaryngology negligence compensation?

You can claim compensation for any damages that occurred when you sue in an otolaryngology negligence case. 

There are two types of compensation damages due when suing for any type of medical negligence, such as ENT negligence:

General Damages in an otolaryngology negligence claim are when you sue for the pain, suffering and loss of amenity, PSLA, you have experienced due to a misdiagnosis, missed diagnosis, treatment errors or delays in treatment with an ENT issue caused by a medical professional. 

  • Pain is that above what is normally expected for your condition, made worse by the negligence 
  • Suffering is the inconvenience and changes to your life that cause you unnecessary discomfort when you suffer otolaryngology negligence
  • Loss of Amenity is any difficulty you have in doing everyday tasks, such as walking, sitting, playing sports, and sleeping 

Special Damages in an otolaryngology negligence claim can include any loss of earnings, future care costs, and out-of-pocket expenses. 

  • Loss of earnings includes compensation for time off work and any reduction of your income in the future 
  • Future care costs are for any care you will need as a result of the otolaryngology negligence, causing your condition to worsen 
  • Out-of-pocket expenses cover medical appointments, travel, accommodation, and meals 

Be sure to keep payslips, receipts, and proof of any losses you experience due to the errors by a medical professional in your ENT treatment. 

You deserve compensation to cover all losses, including loss of life for dependents, medical costs, and long-term care needs. 

When you or a loved one experiences unnecessary suffering due to negligence by a medical professional, such as that caused by a missed diagnosis or misdiagnosis of an otolaryngology issue, you can claim medical negligence compensation.

medical negligence compensation types

Who is responsible for otolaryngology negligence?

A medical professional can be responsible for your otolaryngology negligence. They are the ones who owe you a duty of care, and when they breach that duty of care by missing the signs of throat cancer or damaging your inner ear during treatment, then you are the one to suffer. 

The NHS is a hard-working and excellent health service for the people of the UK. Administrators and medical professionals working within the NHS can make errors, which may lead to ENT negligence, like a missed diagnosis of nasal cancer.

Those responsible for your otolaryngology negligence can be:

  • The hospital consultant who fails to diagnose throat cancer
  • The otolaryngologist who damages the inner ear during treatment
  • The ENT specialist who makes a misdiagnosis of sleep apnoea
  • The otolaryngology surgeon who damages the facial nerves during surgery
  • The doctor who damages the senses of taste and smell during treatment
  • The NHS hospital which does not employ fully trained staff
  • The NHS hospital which does not follow otolaryngology treatment guidelines
  • The NHS hospital, which causes a mix-up in your medical notes and records
Who is responsible for medical negligence

Otolaryngology negligence, such as surgery errors leading to deafness, can have severe, long-term effects on your life and that of your family and loved ones. 

When your diagnosis of throat cancer is missed, or you suffer a misdiagnosis of a sinus infection or sleep apnoea, you or your loved ones may have a claim for medical negligence. 

How to make a claim for otolaryngology negligence

The steps involved in making a claim for otolaryngology negligence go from seeking medical advice to issuing court proceedings when you suffer negligence in your diagnosis or treatment for an ear, nose and throat issue. 

The steps are a part of any successful compensation case, and settlement can happen at any stage in the process. 

Your medical negligence solicitor will do the rest when you follow the steps correctly and gather all the facts and figures.

Seek medical advice on the effects of the medical negligence and any unnecessary suffering you experience as soon as you realise you may be a victim of errors in treating and diagnosing your ENT complaint, leading to unnecessary suffering.

Contact a specialist medical negligence solicitor who operates on a No Win No Fee basis and tell them what went wrong. The right solicitor will look at the case, see where the problem lies, and advise if you have a claim for medical negligence. 

The Medical Negligence Team also have a 100% Compensation Guarantee scheme, where you get all the money awarded in a negligence claim. 

You or a loved one suffered medical negligence by a medical professional, and you should get all the money due for the otolaryngology negligence.

Your medical negligence solicitor obtains the medical records with your permission. By reading the records, they will confirm if they think you have a valid claim for medical negligence in your ear, nose and throat treatment or diagnosis of an ENT condition. 

The medical negligence team will know from your medical records if the case will result in compensation being paid.

The medical negligence solicitor sending a letter of claim to the negligent party is the next step. The letter will ask them to admit the medical negligence in what is known as ‘sending a letter of claim.’ 

When the negligent party receives the letter of claim, they have up to four months to provide a written response.

Getting a response from the negligent party’s insurer will move the compensation claim closer to a conclusion. 

The insurer will either admit to the claim of medical negligence or say they intend to defend the case. Deciding to defend the claim is known as ‘deny liability’ in legal terms. 

If they admit liability, your medical negligence claim can be valued, and the two parties will meet to decide on the compensation payment. 

Your solicitor will negotiate with the negligent party and use their experience to get the compensation you deserve for any medical negligence caused by a medical professional in your diagnosis of an otolaryngology complaint or treatment of it.

Issuing court proceedings is the next step if they deny liability in your claim for medical negligence. 

Going to court happens, too, when they are not prepared to pay a fair amount for the damages you or your loved ones suffered. Your medical negligence solicitor issues the court proceedings.  

Remember that less than 1% of medical negligence cases end up in court, and very few of those cases ever make it to the courtroom.

making a medical negligence claim

Our Process

Our team members have a higher career win rate with a 75% success rate on NHS letters of claim, compared to an industry average of 54.5%.

Enquiry

The first step is to get in touch and tell us what went wrong. It’s free and easy. Call our 24-hour helpline: 0800 246 1122 or request a callback here.

Medical Evaluation

Once you have spoken with our team we’ll let you know how we can help. Typically the next step is to obtain your medical records for us to review.

Legal Letter

Once all your medical records have been received they will be reviewed by a medically & legally qualified member of our team. If there is evidence of negligence we will send a letter of claim to the negligent party outlining your compensation claim.

How long do I have to make a claim for medical negligence?

You have three years to make a claim for medical negligence. All medical negligence claims are subject to limitation periods. 

For example, in England and Wales, medical negligence cases for otolaryngology negligence must generally be brought and court proceedings issued within three years of the injury or three years of knowledge of the facts giving rise to the claim. 

If someone has passed away due to a breach of duty of care by a medical professional, it is the date of death if the limitation period has not expired by that time. 

Children not under a disability typically have until they reach 21 to start a medical negligence claim or court proceedings. 

Persons with a disability, who lack capacity, are not subject to any limitation period.

Will I have to go to court with a medical negligence claim?

No, you are very unlikely to have to go to court with a medical negligence claim. 

The majority of cases are settled well before there is a need for court action, and NHS Resolution will see most cases are dealt with, in conjunction with your solicitor, before a referral to court by either side. 

Errors by an ENT specialist in the diagnosis of an otolaryngology issue such as throat cancer or in treatment, such as prescribing the wrong medication, can cause you and your family a lot of distress. If you discover the errors could be due to medical negligence, you will want answers and compensation for the effects of the otolaryngology negligence. 

Your solicitor will want to keep the medical negligence claim out of court and get it settled in your favour as quickly as possible. 

If your claim is one of the very few cases that do go to court, it will be handled by your No Win No Fee medical negligence solicitor.  

Using a No Win No Fee medical negligence solicitor

Using a No Win No Fee medical negligence solicitor is the only way to a successful compensation claim for medical negligence. Your No Win No Fee medical negligence solicitor will not charge you for a claim you do not win.

The medical negligence solicitor will have experience dealing with the NHS and insurance companies when handling any otolaryngology negligence claim. They will know the causes of ENT negligence, who caused the medical negligence, and the possible effects of negligence by a medical professional. 

Your No Win No Fee solicitor will handle your compensation claim when you suffer otolaryngology negligence and know how to make it a successful compensation claim. 

Always have a fee agreement in place before engaging a medical negligence solicitor. If they start talking of a ‘win fee’ or a ‘success fee,’ you should walk away. The negligent party insurers should pay all fees. 

The medical negligence solicitor should also operate a 100% Compensation Guarantee scheme. When you win the case, all the money awarded should go to you, not the solicitor. 

You are the one who experienced the medical negligence, and you deserve the compensation to get your life back to normal.

Using a No Win No Fee solicitor

Contact The Medical Negligence Team

Contact the Medical Negligence Team today to discuss your claim for otolaryngology negligence. You suffered from the effects of the medical negligence, like a misdiagnosis of throat cancer, and you may be able to claim compensation for the ENT negligence.

At the Medical Negligence Team, we fight every compensation claim on a No Win No Fee basis, and you will not be out of pocket for an unsuccessful claim. We have both the legal and medical experts to guide you along the steps to a successful claim for compensation. 

We have a very high success rate and a reputation for a speedy and successful resolution to medical negligence claims for otolaryngology negligence. 

Our 100% Compensation Guarantee puts all the money you win into your pocket. You may have a compensation claim if you experience negligence in your diagnosis of cancer of the ear or treatment for a throat infection and in the care during your ENT surgery. 

Contact us at the Medical Negligence Team, and let us handle your claim for otolaryngology negligence compensation.

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