A misdiagnosis of appendicitis claim seeks compensation for when you suffer injury due to medical negligence in the treatment of appendicitis. The misdiagnosis could be missing the signs of appendicitis or diagnosing it as another medical problem. 

The medical professional treating your condition owes you a duty of care. If they breach that duty of care by giving you a misdiagnosis of appendicitis, then you may have a claim for compensation. 

You bring a compensation claim against those responsible for the misdiagnosis of appendicitis. If a loved one cannot represent themselves, you or their family may be able to claim on their behalf. 

Dependents suffer in many ways, and a medical negligence claim can seek the compensation they deserve. 

A No Win No Fee medical negligence solicitor can make your misdiagnosis of appendicitis claim for compensation when you suffer negligence by medical professionals.

Misdiagnosis of Appendicitis Claim

Table of Content

What is appendicitis?

Appendicitis is the inflammation of the appendix. The appendix is a small, narrow pouch that sticks out from the end of the large intestine. Inflammation or swelling of the appendix can happen for little reason and without warning. 

The appendix does not seem to have any function, and most people can go through life without any trouble from it. 

Appendicitis can happen out of the blue and usually shows itself as a pain in the belly, which spreads down through the lower abdomen. Appendicitis often starts as a mild pain but can become very acute as the condition worsens.

The symptoms of appendicitis can be:

  • Nausea
  • Severe pain in the abdomen
  • Vomiting
  • High fever
  • Diarrhoea
  • Constipation

The correct diagnosis of appendicitis is vital to resolving the condition quickly and successfully. A misdiagnosis of appendicitis is not unusual, unfortunately, and leads to many health risks to the patient.

symptoms of appendicitis

What is a misdiagnosis of appendicitis?

A misdiagnosis of appendicitis is when the examining doctor misses the signs of an inflamed appendix, and either sends the patient home or diagnoses another condition. 

Appendicitis can be mistaken for digestion problems, pregnancy complications and food poisoning. The severe pain is often thought to be a trapped nerve, bad wind or even the beginnings of a hernia. Doing a simple physical test call the Rovsing’s sign can help diagnose appendicitis by pressing on the left lower abdomen and seeing if pain is felt on the lower right side which is where the pain normally is when diagnosing appendicitis. Your doctor will also test for guarding and test a particular point on the lower right side of your abdomen known as McBurney’s point. 

The examining doctor should consider all the possible symptoms and how they could point to appendicitis. Some symptoms of appendicitis can be mistaken for another condition, but the doctor should not ignore the possibility of appendicitis when giving a diagnosis. 

There are risks of a misdiagnosed appendicitis to the patient, and you could have a claim for medical negligence compensation if you suffer the effects of one.

misdiagnosis claim

What are the potential risks of misdiagnosed appendicitis?

The potential risks of misdiagnosed appendicitis range from infection to severe illness and, in some cases, the death of the patient. An immediate risk from a misdiagnosis of appendicitis is a burst appendix and all that it brings to a patient. 

It is crucial that the doctor makes a swift diagnosis of appendicitis to avoid the complications associated with a burst appendix. Peritonitis, when a burst appendix infects the stomach, can make the patient seriously ill and, if left untreated, can cause death. 

The potential risks of misdiagnosed appendicitis are:

  • The symptoms of appendicitis worsen, making the patient very ill
  • The appendix bursting, spreading infection
  • Peritonitis due to infection from a burst infection
  • Emergency surgery which can put a patient’s life in danger
  • Damage to internal organs due to infection from a burst appendix
  • Abscesses forming in the abdomen causing infection

A burst appendix will quickly spread infection and will require emergency surgery to reduce the effects of the infection. 

If you suffer the effects of misdiagnosed appendicitis, you may have a claim for compensation.

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Common claims for appendicitis misdiagnosis

The common claims for appendicitis misdiagnosis seek compensation for the damages caused by errors in the treatment of appendicitis. Claims for appendicitis misdiagnosis range from doctor error to mistakes in treatment 

Appendicitis misdiagnosis claims come from negligence by a medical professional. The breach of their duty of care missed the signs of appendicitis, and you may have an appendicitis misdiagnosis claim if it happened to you. 

Common claims for appendicitis misdiagnosis are:

Common claims for appendicitis misdiagnosis

Infection due to delays in diagnosing appendicitis claim

Infection due to delays in diagnosing appendicitis can happen if the appendix bursts after a misdiagnosis causes treatment errors. 

The doctor, instead of diagnosing appendicitis from your symptoms, prescribes a course of medication for indigestion and sends you home. 

Your appendix later bursts, causing infection and other health complications.

Appendicitis complications due to failure to refer claim

Appendicitis complications due to failure to refer can be the appendicitis worsening due to an A&E doctor, GP or paramedic not referring you for scans and tests when you have the symptoms. Appendicitis is an acute illness where time is of the essence and hours can make a difference to the level of infection, pain and suffering.  

The failure to refer can lead to the appendix bursting before the necessary surgery and causing all the health issues associated with the leaking of faecal matter into your system.

Burst appendix causes peritonitis claim

Burst appendix causes peritonitis is a common misdiagnosis of appendicitis claim. The appendix bursts due to a misdiagnosis, causing delays in the surgery and the spreading of faecal matter throughout the body.

The infection can quickly spread to the peritoneum, and if not treated immediately, peritonitis will set in with all the complications that it causes. 

Peritonitis makes the patient very ill and, if not caught in time, can cause the death of the patient.

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Sepsis due to a burst appendix claim

Sepsis due to a burst appendix is a very serious result of a misdiagnosis of appendicitis. Sepsis is when the body begins to shut down as a reaction to an infection and can be difficult to reverse if left untreated. 

Sepsis can result if the burst appendix happens at home and the patient is unaware of the condition. 

The body’s immune system will spiral out of control, and death can happen if left untreated.

Misdiagnosis of appendicitis led to delays in surgery claim

A misdiagnosis of appendicitis led to delays in surgery, which in turn allowed the appendicitis to worsen and possibly put the patient’s life in danger is another type of compensation claim. 

A patient may go home after a misdiagnosis of appendicitis or go for tests for other conditions, which all lead to delays in a correct diagnosis and the subsequent surgery. 

Delays in surgery increase the risk of infection and may turn a simple procedure into an emergency one and put the patient’s life at risk.

Unnecessary suffering due to a misdiagnosis of appendicitis claim

Unnecessary suffering due to a misdiagnosis of appendicitis can be when you suffer severe indigestion, pain, vomiting and other complications due to delays in treating your symptoms. 

You could go through days and nights of unnecessary suffering when the doctor misdiagnoses appendicitis as another illness.

Infertility due to damage caused by misdiagnosis of appendicitis claim

Infertility due to damage caused by misdiagnosis of appendicitis happens when the appendix bursts and spreads infection throughout the lower body. 

In women, the infection may spread to the reproductive organs and damage a woman’s ability to conceive. 

The infection from a burst appendix can damage internal organs and cause infertility.

Death due to a misdiagnosis of appendicitis claim

Death due to a misdiagnosis of appendicitis can happen if the burst appendix is not treated in time and an infection spreads into the body. Surgery is the only solution to appendicitis, and delays due to a misdiagnosis can cause it to burst and spread faecal matter around the body. 

An untreated infection will worsen, causing internal organ inflammation and sepsis. 

The infection left untreated by antibiotics will take hold of the body and may result in the death of the patient. 

Appendicitis may present as stomach problems or chronic pain, and the doctor should carry out a full medical investigation if you are ill with one or more symptoms. 

It is medical negligence not to investigate a patient’s condition and dismiss the symptoms of appendicitis as being those of another complication. 

A No Win No Fee medical negligence solicitor can look at your case and see if you have a valid misdiagnosis of appendicitis claim for compensation.

Compensation for misdiagnosis of appendicitis

You can seek compensation for misdiagnosis of appendicitis claims in amounts from the low £10,000s to over £10 million in some cases. 

The compensation varies depending on several factors, and misdiagnosis of appendicitis negligence claims sometimes see very high awards, such as when a patient passes away or suffers a lifetime of unnecessary suffering and chronic pain.  

Compensation amounts in misdiagnosis of appendicitis claims can be:

  • Failing to make a full physical examination of the patient – £25,300
  • Not referring the patient for further tests, like an ultrasound scan – £33,200
  • Failing to follow up on the results of tests – £41,900
  • Ignoring the obvious symptoms of appendicitis- £55,800
  • Continued misdiagnosis of appendicitis leading to treatment delays – £64,700
compensation claim calculator

All amounts are approximate and are only a guide to what is possible in misdiagnosis of appendicitis claims. Figures can be high in some claims as you or a loved one could need long-term care and may face medical bills for life. You may be able to claim for these care expenses and the medical costs in the future.

As in all medical negligence claims, each case is dealt with on merit and how much the patient suffers due to misdiagnosis of appendicitis complications. 

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

Your No Win No Fee medical negligence solicitor will handle your misdiagnosis of appendicitis claim for compensation and for all damages incurred.

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?

The patient who suffers from complications due to misdiagnosis of appendicitis may be eligible for compensation. They are the ones who have suffered, and the clear medical negligence could lead to the appendicitis going untreated for a time. 

The delays in their treatment could lead to years of unnecessary suffering and the patient’s early death in some cases. 

If a patient passes away due to a misdiagnosis of appendicitis, the ones left behind may have a claim for medical negligence. 

Loved ones in a medical negligence case are known as ‘dependents’ and 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

When you are a victim of medical negligence or have lost a loved one through misdiagnosis of appendicitis, you may have a claim for compensation.

What can you claim for when you sue for a misdiagnosis of appendicitis?

You can claim compensation for any damages that occurred when you sue for a misdiagnosis of appendicitis.

There are two types of compensation damages due when suing for any type of medical negligence: General damages and Special damages.

General damages are when you sue for the pain, suffering and loss of amenity, PSLA, you have experienced due to negligence. 

  • Pain is that above what is normally expected for your procedure. 
  • Suffering is the inconvenience and changes to your life that cause you discomfort.
  • Loss of Amenity is any difficulty you have in doing everyday tasks, such as walking, sitting, playing sports, and sleeping.

Special damages include 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 medical negligence. 
  • 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.  

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

When you or a loved one suffers from the effects of misdiagnosis of appendicitis, you can make a claim for medical negligence compensation.

medical negligence compensation types
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Who is responsible for a misdiagnosis of appendicitis?

A medical professional is responsible for a misdiagnosis of appendicitis negligence. When dependents bring a claim for any medical negligence, they claim against the NHS Trust or private clinic that employed the medical professional responsible.

A medical professional responsible for the misdiagnosis of appendicitis could be:

  • The doctor who failed to diagnose appendicitis
  • The surgical team who missed the signs of a burst appendix
  • The hospital consultant who failed to refer the patient for appendix surgery
  • The nurse who failed to monitor the patient when under observation
  • The hospital responsible for diagnosis protocols and NICE guidelines
  • The hospital responsible for hiring suitable medical professionals
  • The hospital responsible for providing patient care
Who is responsible for medical negligence

Every medical professional owes you a duty of care when dealing with your health problems. You may suffer a misdiagnosis of appendicitis if they are negligent with that duty of care and do not provide you with a professional service.

Medical negligence is treatment below an acceptable standard by a medical professional. Instead of putting the care needed into your care, the treatment team made avoidable errors, which is clear medical negligence. 

By behaving less-than-professionally, the doctor risked the health of a loved one, and the financial and emotional effects could be with you for life.

You can claim compensation for the misdiagnosis of appendicitis and get help getting your life and that of the other dependents back on track.

What are the steps involved in making a medical negligence claim?

The steps involved in making a medical negligence claim go from seeking medical advice to issuing court proceedings. 

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 injuries your loved one suffered during, before or after surgery, as soon as you realise they experienced medical 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 suffered a misdiagnosis of appendicitis. 

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

Your loved one suffered medical negligence, and you should get all the money due for the suffering to your life caused by the misdiagnosis of appendicitis.

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 medical negligence claim. 

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, it has 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 the medical negligence or say they intend to defend the case. Deciding to defend the case is known as ‘deny liability’ in legal terms. 

If they admit liability, your misdiagnosis of appendicitis 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.

Issuing court proceedings is the next step if they deny liability in your misdiagnosis of appendicitis claim. 

Going to court happens, too, when they are not prepared to pay a fair amount for the damages suffered by you or your loved ones. 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.

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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 claims 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 medical negligence claim. 

If someone has passed away, it is the date of death if the limitation period has not expired at the date of death. 

Children not under a disability typically have until they reach 21 to start a misdiagnosis of appendicitis claim or court proceedings. 

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

Can I make a medical negligence claim on behalf of a loved one?

Yes, you can make a medical negligence claim on behalf of a loved one. Under UK law, if an injured party cannot represent themselves, then a loved one can take the case on their behalf.

Misdiagnosis of appendicitis is a perfect example of claiming on behalf of a loved one. The medical negligence could take a loved one’s life or leave them unable to make a claim.

Your loved one depends wholly on you and the family for care and to fight for their rights. By making a claim on their behalf for medical negligence, you are fighting for the compensation they deserve.

A parent can make a medical negligence claim on behalf of a child while they are still under 18. In some cases, the diagnosis of medical negligence is not made until a child is in their late teens. The child’s parents can make a compensation claim when the child is under 18, but the young adult can make one until they turn 21. 

A No Win No Fee medical negligence solicitor will work with you to win the compensation claim for the misdiagnosis of appendicitis.

Using a No Win No Fee solicitor

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

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 suffered due to the misdiagnosis of appendicitis negligence, and you deserve the compensation to get your life back to normal.

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Can I make a medical misdiagnosis claim against the NHS?

Yes, you can make a medical misdiagnosis claim against the NHS. Suing the NHS for negligence is not unusual. People sue the NHS for compensation for medical misdiagnosis negligence and receive the money they deserve for the lack of duty of care. 

The misdiagnosis of appendicitis is a very common occurrence in NHS hospitals. A misdiagnosis of appendicitis can result in serious infection, sepsis, damage to other internal organs and death. 

We trust in and use the NHS daily and do not expect negligence. It happens, though, and a ‘Never Event’ such as a misdiagnosis of appendicitis is medical negligence, and patients claim compensation for the suffering. 

The NHS has a dedicated team to handle medical negligence compensation claims, called NHS Resolution. NHS Resolution has a responsibility to treat patients who seek compensation fairly. 

Patients pay for the NHS through their taxes to receive the best medical treatment and may claim compensation when they do not get it. Patients make more than 10,000 successful medical negligence claims against the NHS each year, with amounts in compensation awarded ranging from £1000 to over £10 million. 

Your No Win No Fee medical negligence team solicitor can handle your compensation claim with NHS Resolution and achieve a successful outcome.

Contact The Medical Negligence Team

Contact the Medical Negligence Team today to discuss your misdiagnosis of appendicitis claim for compensation. We have both the legal and medical experts to guide you along the steps to a successful medical negligence claim for compensation.

At the Medical Negligence Team, we fight every compensation claim on a No Win No Fee basis. You will not be out of pocket for an unsuccessful claim. 

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

Our 100% Compensation Guarantee puts all the money you win into your pocket. You or your loved one suffered medical negligence and deserve every penny of the compensation claim. 

Contact us at the Medical Negligence Team for all your medical negligence needs.

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