Negligence can occur at any stages of patient care within the field of gastroenterology. Here are some common scenarios where gastroenterology negligence may occur:
- Misdiagnosis or Delayed Diagnosis: Failure to accurately diagnose gastrointestinal conditions such as colorectal cancer, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, or gastrointestinal bleeding can lead to delayed treatment and worsened outcomes for patients.
- Errors in Endoscopy Procedures: Endoscopy procedures, which are commonly used for diagnosing and treating gastrointestinal issues, can be prone to errors. These errors may include perforations, bleeding, failure to detect abnormalities, or inadequate follow-up after the procedure.
- Medication Errors: Prescribing the wrong medication, incorrect dosage, or failure to monitor for potential side effects can result in adverse reactions and worsen a patient's condition.
- Surgical Errors: Surgical procedures within gastroenterology, such as colonoscopies or laparoscopic surgeries, may involve errors such as organ perforation, damage to surrounding tissues, or post-operative complications due to negligence during the procedure or inadequate post-operative care.
- Failure to Obtain Informed Consent: Healthcare providers have a duty to inform patients of the risks, benefits, and alternatives of medical procedures or treatments. Failure to obtain informed consent from patients before performing a procedure may constitute negligence.
- Lack of Follow-Up or Monitoring: Proper follow-up and monitoring of patients with gastrointestinal conditions are essential for ensuring timely interventions and preventing complications. Negligence in providing appropriate follow-up care can lead to worsened outcomes for patients.
- Inadequate Communication or Documentation: Effective communication between healthcare providers and patients, as well as accurate documentation of patient care, are crucial for ensuring the continuity and quality of care. Negligence in communication or documentation can result in misunderstandings, errors, and lapses in patient care.
Gastroenterology negligence can occur whenever there is a deviation from the accepted standard of care in the diagnosis, treatment, or management of gastrointestinal conditions, leading to harm or injury to patients.
What are examples of gastroenterology disorders and diseases?
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD): A chronic condition where stomach acid flows back into the oesophagus, causing symptoms such as heartburn, regurgitation, and chest pain.
- Cancer: Cancer of the Bowel, liver, oesophageal, pancreatic and stomach cancer are all considered gastroenterology disease which requires treatment.
- Twisted bowel: A twisted bowel, also known as volvulus, is a medical emergency that occurs when a segment of the intestines twists around itself, resulting in a blockage of the intestinal flow. This condition can occur in various parts of the gastrointestinal tract, including the small intestine (small bowel volvulus) or the colon (colonic volvulus).
- Perianal diseases: Perianal diseases refer to conditions affecting the area around the anus and encompass a variety of disorders such as; Haemorrhoids, Anal Fissures, Perianal Abscess, Anal Fistula, Pruritus Ani, Anal Skin Tags, Anal Warts (Condyloma Acuminate HPV) and Perianal Dermatitis. These are some of the common perianal diseases encountered in clinical practice, each with its own set of symptoms, causes, and treatment approaches.
- Peptic Ulcer Disease: Open sores that develop on the inner lining of the stomach, upper small intestine, or oesophagus, often caused by infection with Helicobacter pylori bacteria or long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): A group of inflammatory conditions of the colon and small intestine, including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, characterised by chronic inflammation, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, and weight loss.
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): A functional gastrointestinal disorder characterised by abdominal pain or discomfort, bloating, and changes in bowel habits, without evidence of structural or biochemical abnormalities.
- Gastrointestinal Bleeding: Bleeding in the digestive tract, which can occur anywhere from the oesophagus to the rectum, resulting from various causes such as peptic ulcers, diverticulosis, inflammatory bowel disease, or gastrointestinal cancers.
- Gallstones: Hardened deposits that form in the gallbladder, often composed of cholesterol or bilirubin, which can cause pain, inflammation, and complications such as gallbladder obstruction or pancreatitis.
- Pancreatitis: Inflammation of the pancreas, which can be acute or chronic and is often characterised by severe abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and elevated pancreatic enzyme levels.
- Celiac Disease: An autoimmune disorder triggered by the ingestion of gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye, causing damage to the lining of the small intestine and leading to symptoms such as diarrhoea, abdominal pain, and malabsorption of nutrients.
- Liver Diseases: Various conditions affecting the liver, including viral hepatitis (such as hepatitis B and hepatitis C), fatty liver disease, alcoholic liver disease, cirrhosis, and liver cancer.
- Diverticular Disease: Diverticula are small pouches that can form in the colon, and diverticular disease refers to complications such as inflammation (diverticulitis) or bleeding associated with these pouches.
What injuries can occur?
Injuries resulting from gastroenterology negligence can vary widely depending on the specific circumstances of the negligence and the underlying gastrointestinal condition being treated. Here are some common injuries that may result from gastroenterology negligence:
- Worsened Gastrointestinal Conditions: Failure to accurately diagnose or treat gastrointestinal conditions can lead to the progression of diseases such as colorectal cancer, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, or gastrointestinal bleeding, resulting in worsened symptoms and complications.
- Surgical Complications: Surgical errors during gastroenterological procedures, such as organ perforation, haemorrhage, or infections, can lead to serious complications requiring additional treatment and potentially causing long-term harm to patients.
- Internal Bleeding: Errors during endoscopic procedures or surgical interventions can cause internal bleeding, which may lead to anaemia, hypovolemic shock, or the need for emergency medical interventions to control bleeding and stabilise the patient.
- Perforations or Tears: Perforations or tears in the gastrointestinal tract, such as the oesophagus, stomach, intestines, or colon, can occur during endoscopy procedures or surgical interventions, leading to peritonitis, sepsis, or the need for surgical repair.
- Infections: Inadequate sterilisation techniques or failure to prevent post-operative infections can result in infections of the gastrointestinal tract or surrounding tissues, requiring antibiotics or additional medical interventions to treat.
- Permanent Disabilities or Death: In the most severe cases of gastroenterology negligence, patients may experience permanent disabilities or succumb to complications arising from their injuries, leading to premature death.
- Psychological Trauma: Being subjected to gastroenterology negligence and experiencing worsened health outcomes can cause significant psychological distress, anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in affected patients.
- Loss of Quality of Life: Severe injuries resulting from gastroenterology negligence can impact a patient's ability to perform daily activities, work, or engage in social and recreational pursuits, leading to a diminished quality of life.
- These injuries underscore the importance of providing high-quality, attentive care in gastroenterology to prevent patient harm and ensure positive health outcomes.
Why Pursue a Personal Injury Claim?
- Financial Compensation: Medical negligence can result in substantial medical expenses, ongoing costs, and loss of income. A personal injury claim can help you secure the financial compensation needed to cover these expenses and ensure a stable future.
- Rehabilitation and Support: Recovering often requires extensive rehabilitation and ongoing support. A successful personal injury claim can provide the resources necessary for specialised treatments, therapy, and assistance to enhance your recovery process.
- Holding Responsible Parties Accountable: By pursuing a personal injury claim, you not only seek compensation but also hold those responsible for the negligence accountable. The claim can also help prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
- Quality of Life Improvements: Compensation from a personal injury claim can enable you to access the best available medical care, support services, and medical technologies.
A compensation can cover:
- Loss of earnings and pension arising due to the negligence
- Costs of treatment, therapies and equipment
- Ongoing care costs
- Lifestyle changes to accommodate injury
- Physical and psychological conditions arising from negligence
Compensation Routes
We offer a free initial consultation to evaluate your case and discuss your legal options. Our solicitors understand the complex and long-lasting challenges posed by injury that was not your fault. Your well-being is our priority, and we are committed to providing you with the legal representation you need during this challenging time
There are time scales and you should contact us as soon as possible to investigate an action for you
Contact Us
Get in touch, we are here to provide not only expert legal guidance but also an understanding of the physical, emotional, and financial challenges you face. Together, we will work towards securing the compensation you deserve.
