Every
year thousands of patients lose their lives due to medical negligence all over
the United Kingdom. But many times the family or persons close to the patients
are unaware of the necessary procedures that should be undertaken in case of
death due to medical negligence. So, this article provides some comprehensive
details about medical negligence claims UK resulting in death. Moreover,
you will also get to know about the compensation that is offered against some
common clinical negligence cases.
What is Meant by Medical Negligence?
Before we move forward with the details
regarding the compensation for medical negligence resulting in death, let’s
understand what medical negligence means exactly. Every medical or health care
professional owes a duty to each patient that’s put under their care. It’s also
termed as “duty of care”. And when this “duty of care” is violated causing
severe harm or death of the patient then it’s called medical negligence.
What are Some of the Common Cases Resulting in Medical Negligence in the UK?
Medical
negligence is quite common and can adversely affect the patients and their
loved ones. Though apart from severe damages and death of the patient, minor damages
resulting due to ignorance can also be termed as medical negligence according
to the law.
While
a lot of medical negligence issues arise from misdiagnosis or delayed
diagnosis, wrong medication and anaesthesia errors can often be the cause.
Moreover, general incompetence displayed by the medical professional which
posed a threat to the patient's life can be also be termed as medical negligence.
How can you Claim Compensation for Medical Negligence Resulting in Death?
National
Health Service (NHS) covers healthcare for the people in Britain and hence the
medical negligence cases are usually filed against the NHS staff members
including doctors, nurses, pharmacists or even diagnosticians.
Claiming
compensation for medical negligence resulting in death would legally require
you to file a case under medical negligence laws. The legal procedures would
also involve claiming compensation from the concerned hospital.
What is the Time Limit to Claim Medical Negligence Resulting in Death?
Experiencing
the death of a loved one can be extremely painful and this often makes it
difficult for the family to file a claim. But the general time limit to claim
medical negligence resulting in death is 3 years from the date on which the incident
took place. Therefore, it’s advisable to file a claim sooner so that the
details of the incidents are still fresh in your memory and you can document
them properly.
How Much Compensation can you Get for Medical Negligence Resulting in Death?
Medical
negligence claims resulting in death can cover a whole variety of care forms.
Moreover, each case is different in nature and severity and hence is dealt with
accordingly. So it’s quite impossible to exactly calculate the total amount of
money paid against such a claim. But to give a rough estimate, compensation for
medical negligence resulting in death can range from £12000 to £300,000. This
could include medical expenses, damages, travel expenses and even funeral costs
depending upon the claim.
