Medical Negligence Claim?

beckylewis1983

Hi

Just a quick question to see if there is any grounds for a medical negligence claim.

The claim is regarding my hips, I have recently been diagnosed with hip dysplasia in both hips which leaves me in agony most days and I find it difficult to walk long distances. I have been told I will need a PAO surgery to correct the dysplasia which will be discussed at my next appointment. I believe that this could have been picked up sooner as when I was born I had dislocated hips and was in a splint then plaster casts and eventually on traction in hospital which didn't work so back to casts. They were taken off when I was about one year old and my parents were advised from the consultant that everything was OK. However the hospital or consultant never mentioned about any checkups and I was never called back during my childhood. I have since been advised that this was meant to happen, and I am sure that if this had then the dysplasia would have been caught sooner and I may not have needed surgery or in as much pain as I am now

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

MovingForwards

How old are you now?

tacpot12

If it is correct that you should have been called back AND there is a high degree of confidence that had you been reviewed the surgery and/or the pain could have been avoided, then you probably have a valid claim. You need a solicitor who specialises in medical negligence claims to advise you. They may represent you for a share of your compensation if you win: a No-Win, No-Fee deal.

However, they will not take on your case if the chance of winning is too low.

You need to start gathering your evidence, e.g. how do you know that you should have been called back? It will help if you can identify where and when the error was made.

pinkshoes

I googled it.

The first thing I came across is that adult hip dysplasia is VERY difficult to diagnose, and people will often see 3 medical experts and diagnosis often takes 5 years.

https://hipdysplasia.org/adult-hip-dysplasia/adult-diagnosis/

You would need to prove that having hip dysplasia as a child would make your chances much higher as having it as an adult. Is this the case?

As it seems to difficult to diagnose as an adult, then I fear you may find it rather hard to prove your case.

Dr_Crypto

Tough one. You’d have to show that it was not normal practice in the early 1980s (assuming you were born in 1983 as per your username) not to follow up patients. You’d also have to show that it made a difference to the outcome.
A further complication is that your records from that time may no longer be available and X-rays almost certainly won’t be.

You’d have to approach a solicitor but I wouldn’t get your hopes up.

JamoLew

You may be surprised to find that any imaging probably will be available.

Our place stores on site the last 10 years of patient imaging and offsite Indefinitely. A good majority was scanned also into the patient info system when we went "paperless" a couple of years ago

I would say tho as above, a historic negligence claim from 25+ years ago will probably be exceedingly difficult to win, let alone getting someone to take it on.