When a patient is admitted to accident and emergency, it is usually the result of some sort of traumatic injury. These can be soft tissue injuries such as bruising or fractures. After doctors suspect a fracture, then an X-ray should be taken. In most cases, the doctor examining these fractures will reach the correct conclusion and the appropriate treatment will follow.
X-Ray Misdiagnosis Claims Solicitors
However, on occasion, the doctor can misinterpret the results and the fracture can be missed. If this is the case and the doctor has failed to meet the correct standard of care, you may be entitled to compensation.
Missed diagnosis from X-ray
It is not always possible to detect a fracture on an X-ray as small, healing fractures of small bones can be difficult to identify. It may be that an X-ray does not provide a clear image, or swelling and bruising make diagnosis unclear.
It’s important to note that these factors do not always make misdiagnosis acceptable. If the doctors suspect complications or that there may be further injury, you should be invited back for another X-ray. Failure to properly diagnose a fracture can mean additional pain for the patient or a failure of the injury to heal properly. There can, on rare occasions, also be further complications such as osteoarthritis or restriction of the blood supply to surrounding muscles.
It goes without saying but the consequences of either of these can be serious. If you think you have been misdiagnosed due to avoidable errors or medical negligence on the part of a radiology or X-ray department, our experienced X-ray compensation claims solicitors may be able to help you claim the compensation you deserve.
Claiming compensation for X-ray misdiagnosis
Like any medical negligence claim, X-Ray misdiagnosis claims need to meet certain criteria. These are:
- You must have suffered an injury. If the misdiagnosis and resultant injury are the cause of medical negligence, you will be able to make a claim. If these occurred naturally or is linked to another condition which occurred naturally, then you will be unable to make a claim.
- Someone needs to be at fault. The injury needs to be the fault of someone else, and they must have failed to meet the correct standard of care while treating you.
- The injury must have been caused by the event in question. If the misdiagnosis and subsequent complications have occurred in any event or are not causally linked to the negligence, you will be unable to claim compensation.
- The injury must have occurred (or become obvious) within the last three years. Normally, personal injury claims have to be made within three years.
If you have suffered as a result of medical negligence, OP Law can help you seek financial compensation. Our experienced team will guide you through the complex legal process, ensuring that you receive the best possible outcome to your compensation claim. Click here to get in touch or call us on 01727 790510