Medical specialist negligence is when you receive treatment from a medical specialist that is below a standard that any other medical professional would provide. You may suffer an injury due to the medical specialist negligence and you may be able to make a medical negligence claim. 

You could suffer the misdiagnosis of a condition or a missed diagnosis of a condition or be put on a course of incorrect medication or therapy due to medical specialist negligence. When the negligence happens in a hospital, you could have a hospital negligence compensation claim. 

Medical negligence is when you receive medical care below a level that any other medical professional would not provide. Your medical specialist, such as an oncologist, has a duty of care to patients; if they breach that duty of care, it could be medical negligence. 

You may have a compensation claim for the effects of the hospital specialist negligence on your health today and in the future. When a medical professional breaches their duty of care and causes you unnecessary suffering, you may have a medical negligence claim for compensation. 

The Medical Negligence Team solicitors can take your No Win No Fee claim and seek compensation in a medical specialist negligence claim.

Medical Specialist Negligence

What is specialist negligence?

Specialist negligence is when you suffer medical negligence at the hands of a hospital consultant. You may experience specialist negligence when a cardiologist misses the signs of your stroke or heart attack or when you suffer a missed cancer diagnosis from an oncologist. 

You trust in a medical specialist to give you a professional level of care. Your GP or hospital doctor has referred you to them to take a closer look at your illness and prescribe a course of treatment. If you suffer a less-than-acceptable level of care from the specialist, you may have a specialist negligence compensation claim. 

Medical negligence is when a medical professional provides you with treatment no other medical professional would provide in similar circumstances. If you suffer specialist negligence, you may have a medical negligence compensation claim. 

A No Win No Fee medical negligence solicitor can make your claim for the damages due to the breach of duty of care by the medical specialist in a medical negligence compensation claim.

Medical Negligence Claim Assessment

Take our 5-minute claim assessment to determine the strength and validity of your case. This is a 100% cost and commitment free service.

Medical specialists who are frequently accused of negligence

Medical specialists who are frequently accused of negligence range from an anaesthetist to an oncologist to a rheumatologist. You go to see a medical specialist for their range of medical knowledge and rely on them for their expert treatment. 

A medical specialist may have a crucial part to play in your fighting a medical condition. Your GP or hospital doctor refers you to one because you may need their care and experience to diagnose you and help you recover from a medical condition. 

Types of medical specialists are:

  • Oncologist accused of negligence
  • Cardiologist accused of negligence
  • Gynaecologist accused of negligence
  • Anaesthetist accused of negligence
  • Emergency Medicine doctor accused of negligence
  • Paediatricians accused of negligence
  • Surgeon accused of negligence
Medical specialists who are frequently accused of negligence

Oncologist accused of negligence

An oncologist may be accused of negligence due to a misdiagnosis of your cancer or a missed diagnosis of a cancer. 

The oncologist may not have read your test results correctly or made an incorrect diagnosis on the basis of your notes and physical examination.

Cardiologist accused of negligence

A cardiologist may be accused of medical negligence if they make an avoidable error when treating your heart condition or miss the obvious signs of a heart attack or stroke when treating you.

Gynaecologist accused of negligence

A gynaecologist accused of negligence may make errors during the pregnancy, such as not recognising the need for a Caesarean section or missing the signs that the pregnant mother is suffering from high blood pressure.

Are you eligible for compensation?

If you want to obtain compensation for the negligence you have suffered, we have a simple 3 step process to make sure you get the money you deserve

  • Take our online assessment & speak with our team

  • Our team of doctors and lawyers will undertake a full medical review based on your medical records

  • We will send a legal letter of claim and our solicitors will pursue your compensation on your behalf

All case reviews are 100% cost and commitment free.

Anaesthetist accused of negligence

An anaesthetist accused of negligence may make an error with the patient before or during an operation. They could miscalculate the amount of drugs to use or make errors when intubating a patient.

Emergency medicine doctor accused of negligence

The emergency medicine doctor accused of negligence is the specialist you met when admitted to the Emergency Department. They are the one who needed to assess you accurately and send you for further treatment. 

The emergency medicine doctor could miss your potential stroke, the beginning of Sepsis or even a broken bone in the hand, which could set incorrectly.

Paediatricians accused of negligence

Paediatricians accused of negligence are responsible for the health and rapid diagnosis of ill children. 

If a paediatrician makes an error, such as the misdiagnosis of a childhood condition such as leukaemia, it could be life-threatening for the child.

Surgeon accused of negligence

The surgeon accused of negligence may make an error during surgery, such as nicking a nerve or another organ and could do a lot of damage. 

A surgeon is a medical specialist who many people will be under the care of at some stage in their life. 

Wrong-site surgery and unnecessary scarring are other types of surgical negligence. 

If you suffer medical specialist negligence you could have a medical negligence claim against the doctor responsible. 

A No Win No Fee doctor can take your medical negligence claim and seek the compensation you deserve.

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 medical negligence we will send a letter of claim to the negligent party outlining your medical negligence claim.

Common claims against a medical specialist for negligence

Common claims against a medical specialist for negligence range from a misdiagnosis of a condition to injuries suffered due to medical negligence. 

The common claims may result from your illness getting worse, delays in your medical treatment and unnecessary suffering due to the medical negligence. 

Common claims for specialist medical negligence are:

Common claims against a medical specialist for negligence

Surgical negligence during routine surgery

Surgical negligence during routine surgery can cause pain, and you may need further surgery to help with your recovery. 

Routine surgery errors include cutting into a nearby organ, such as the bowel or stomach and beginning joint replacement surgery on the wrong joint or the incorrect patient.

Missed diagnosis of cancer by an oncologist claim

The missed diagnosis of cancer by an oncologist can lead to your cancer getting worse, delays in the diagnosis of your cancer and maybe your cancer becoming untreatable due to the delays. 

You could become very ill due to a missed diagnosis of cancer. Successful treatment of cancer is often due to an early diagnosis. 

An oncologist should not make a missed diagnosis of cancer and possibly put your life in danger.

Misdiagnosis of a stroke by a cardiologist claim

A misdiagnosis of a stroke by a cardiologist or stroke physician can give the blood clot time to travel in the body and make what could be a routine treatment into a prolonged and life-changing one. 

The cardiologist should refer you for further tests and follow the FAST guidelines for a suspected stroke. 

If you suffer a stroke due to a misdiagnosis by the cardiologist, you may have a claim for medical specialist negligence.

Emergency doctor misses the signs of Sepsis claim

When an emergency doctor misses the signs of Sepsis, they are putting the patient’s life in danger and losing valuable time in reversing the effects of the condition. 

There are telltale signs of Sepsis, such as a high temperature and lack of consciousness, and the trained emergency doctor should know how to diagnose and treat it. 

Sepsis needs rapid intervention with antibiotics. The emergency doctor should diagnose and treat it immediately and avoid putting the patient through unnecessary suffering and pain.

Gynaecologist errors lead to birth defects claim

Gynaecologist errors lead to birth defects when the doctor does not pay full attention to the expectant mother or misses the signs that the baby may be in distress during labour. This may also include a failure to advise the mother that she is having a large baby so she can make an informed decision as to whether to to have an elective C-Section. A large baby becoming stuck can results in serious complications such as shoulder dystocia and brain injuries. 

Birth defects due to late intervention by the gynaecologist can be Spina Bifida, brain damage and spinal injuries. 

The gynaecologist should read the warning signs of possible birth difficulties and intervene to avoid any avoidable birth defects. 

If you or a loved one suffers medical specialist negligence you may have a medical specialist negligence compensation claim. 

A No Win No Fee medical negligence solicitor will look at your case and see if you have a valid claim for medical specialist negligence.

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 medical negligence we will send a letter of claim to the negligent party outlining your medical negligence claim.

Compensation for negligence by a medical specialist

You can seek compensation for negligence by a medical specialist in amounts from the low £10,000s to over £10 million in some cases. The medical negligence by the specialist may be due to long waiting lists, staff shortages and fatigue, 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 oncologist makes an error with your cancer treatment or the gynaecologist harms your newborn baby depends on several factors, such as how much discomfort and disruption you experience in your life today and in the future.

Claims sometimes see very high awards, such as when a patient becomes very ill due to the wrong treatment or suffers unnecessary pain and anxiety due to a missed diagnosis of cancer in a case of medical specialist negligence. 

Compensation for medical specialist negligence can see awards of:

  • Negligence by an anaesthetist causes the surgery patient to wake -£22,580
  • Negligence by emergency doctor leaves patient with broken leg – £32,890
  • Negligence by an oncologist causes delays in cancer treatment – £46,260
  • Negligence by a cardiologist causes stoke – £72,640
  • Negligence by a gynaecologist causes spinal injuries- £125,670
compensation claim calculator

All amounts are approximate and are only a guide to what is possible in a medical specialist 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 errors in treating cancer or errors during cardiac surgery. 

You may be able to claim for these care expenses and the medical costs in the future with a medical specialist 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 medical specialist. 

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

Who is eligible for compensation in a medical specialist negligence claim?

The patient who suffers pain and anxiety and sees their condition getting worse due to medical specialist negligence may be eligible to claim compensation. 

Medical negligence has made them ill, and the poor medical treatment may also affect their recovery. A patient can claim compensation for the effects of the medical specialist’s negligence on their life. 

The patient is the one to suffer due to the misdiagnosis of cancer or a missed diagnosis of a heart attack or stroke. The medical negligence by the specialist may cause a condition to get a lot worse or even put the patient’s life in danger. 

The medical negligence may lead to psychological trauma, unnecessary pain, and further surgery. The patient 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 a medical specialist 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 a medical specialist negligence claim, your No Win No Fee medical negligence solicitor can help make the case for compensation.

What can you claim for in medical specialist negligence compensation?

You can claim compensation for any damages that occurred when you sue in a medical specialist negligence case. 

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

General Damages in a medical specialist negligence claim are when you sue for the pain, suffering and loss of amenity, PSLA, you have experienced due to a misdiagnosis, missed diagnosis, surgical injury or other form of medical negligence caused by a medical specialist. 

  • 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 suffered medical specialist negligence
  • Loss of Amenity is any difficulty you have in doing everyday tasks, such as walking, sitting, playing sports, and sleeping

Special Damages in a medical specialist 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 medical specialist 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 medical negligence of a medical specialist. 

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 specialist, such as that caused by a missed diagnosis of cancer, you can make a claim for medical negligence compensation.

Fatal medical negligence by a specialist

Fatal medical negligence by a specialist is when a loved one passes away due to the lack of professional care by the specialist. You trust a medical specialist to have a duty of care when treating your loved one. If they breach that duty of care and your husband, wife, partner or close relative dies due to fatal medical negligence, you may have a compensation claim. 

The loved ones left behind as a result of fatal medical specialist negligence can claim compensation for the medical negligence. In any medical negligence case, such as that by a medical specialist, those left behind who can claim are known as ‘dependents.’ 

The dependants who can claim compensation for medical specialist negligence can be:

  • A spouse or former spouse of the deceased
  • Someone who lived with the deceased for two years before death 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

The deceased’s family may be able to claim compensation on behalf of the estate for the fatal negligence. 

They may be able to claim for:

  • Mental anguish
  • The economic effects of the death today and in the future
  • The costs of care if the deceased was a carer for a relative
  • Any medical costs due to the negligence, before the death of the loved one
  • Adaptions to the home and car before they passed away
  • Other damages from the fatal negligence, such as loss of income

The dependents of the victim may have a compensation claim, and a No Win No Fee medical negligence solicitor can guide them through the steps in making a claim for medical specialist negligence.

fatal medical negligence

How to make a claim for medical negligence

The steps involved in making a claim for medical negligence go from seeking medical advice to issuing court proceedings when you suffer a missed diagnosis of cancer caused by medical specialist negligence. 

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 poor medical care by a medical professional, leading to medical specialist negligence.

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 specialist, and you should get all the money due for the 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 by a medical specialist. 

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 specialist.

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

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 negligence by a medical specialist 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 specialist, 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 a medical specialist can cause you and your family a lot of distress, and if you discover the errors could be due to medical negligence, you will want answers and compensation for the effects of the hospital negligence by the medical specialist. 

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 a medical specialist negligence claim. They will know the causes of medical specialist negligence, who caused the medical negligence, and the effects of negligence by a medical specialist. 

Your No Win No Fee solicitor will handle your compensation claim when you suffer negligence by a medical specialist and 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 medical specialist negligence. You suffered from the effects of negligence by a medical specialist when ill, and you may be able to claim compensation for the medical 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 specialist negligence claims. 

Our 100% Compensation Guarantee puts all the money you win into your pocket. You may have a compensation claim if you experience negligence by a medical specialist due to a failure during surgery or missing a diagnosis of Sepsis in the Emergency Department. 

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

speak to a medical negligence expert today