Medical Negligence

Medical malpractice occurs when healthcare professionals breach their professional duty of care, causing harm to patients. These cases involve complex medical and legal issues requiring specialist expertise to hold medical professionals accountable for their actions.

What Our Medical Malpractice Solicitors Can Help With

• Professional Misconduct: Serious breaches of medical professional standards
• Duty of Care Breaches: Failure to meet expected standards of medical practice
• Treatment Negligence: Inappropriate or substandard medical treatment
• Informed Consent Issues: Failure to obtain proper patient consent
• Confidentiality Breaches: Unauthorised disclosure of medical information
• Research Misconduct: Unethical medical research and clinical trials
• Fitness to Practice Issues: Challenges to medical professional registration
• Corporate Healthcare Negligence: Systemic failures in healthcare organisations

Types of Medical Malpractice

Clinical Malpractice:

• Substandard diagnosis and treatment
• Failure to follow clinical guidelines
• Inadequate patient monitoring
• Poor record keeping and documentation

Professional Misconduct:

• Inappropriate relationships with patients
• Practising while impaired
• Dishonesty and fraud
• Criminal convictions affecting practice

System Failures:

• Inadequate staffing levels
• Poor communication between teams
• Defective equipment and facilities
• Inadequate training and supervision

Medical Professional Regulation

Regulatory Bodies:

• GMC: General Medical Council for doctors
• NMC: Nursing and Midwifery Council
• GDC: General Dental Council
• HCPC: Health and Care Professions Council
• GPhC: General Pharmaceutical Council

Regulatory Sanctions:

• Conditions on practice
• Suspension from practice
• Erasure from professional register
• Voluntary removal from register

Proving Medical Malpractice

Successful malpractice claims require evidence of:

• Professional Relationship: Doctor-patient relationship existed
• Standard of Care: The expected standard in similar circumstances
• Breach of Standard: The professional fell below expected standards
• Causation: The breach directly caused harm or injury
• Damages: Actual loss or injury resulted from the breach

Compensation and Remedies

Financial Compensation:

• Medical expenses and ongoing treatment costs
• Lost earnings and reduced earning capacity
• Pain, suffering, and loss of amenity
• Care costs and rehabilitation expenses

Non-Financial Remedies:

• Formal apologies and acknowledgment
• Changes to medical procedures
• Additional training for medical staff
• Disciplinary action against individuals

Malpractice Claims Timeline

Key Timeframes:

• Limitation period: 3 years from date of knowledge
• Letter of claim response: 4 months for NHS trusts
• Case investigation: 6-18 months typically
• Settlement negotiations: 6-24 months
• Court proceedings: 18-36 months if required

Why Choose SolicitorConnect for Medical Malpractice

• Specialist Knowledge: Deep understanding of medical professional standards
• Regulatory Experience: Expertise in professional conduct proceedings
• Medical Expert Access: Network of independent medical professionals
• Multi-Disciplinary Approach: Legal, medical, and regulatory expertise
• Patient Advocacy: Strong commitment to patient rights and safety
• Comprehensive Support: Guidance through complex legal processes

Medical malpractice cases require specialist expertise to navigate the intersection of legal obligations, professional standards, and patient rights.

This information is for general guidance only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific legal advice tailored to your situation, please consult with a qualified solicitor.