Meningitis Misdiagnosis Claims Solicitors

Meningitis interferes with the lining of the brain and spinal cord. As these membranes become inflamed, an increased amount of pressure is placed on these critical and highly sensitive areas of the body.

If a medical professional does not intervene quickly upon recognising symptoms of meningitis, prolonged swelling can cause brain damage, inhibit motor functions and lead to other life-changing consequences.

In some cases, meningitis can also release toxins that infect the blood. This can cause sepsis, leading to organ failure, requiring the need to amputate limbs or digits and, if left untreated long enough, may even prove fatal.

You can find out more about the dangers of not spotting meningitis soon enough in our insights.

Although meningitis can affect anyone, groups where this condition is most common include:

• Babies and young children

• Teenagers and young adults

• Elderly people

• People with weakened immune systems

Additionally, because this condition attacks the brain and spinal cord, people undergoing certain medical procedures, such as spinal surgery, childbirth or nasal surgery, may be more likely to catch meningitis.

The viruses and bacteria that cause meningitis can be spread in numerous ways, including coughing and sneezing. However, it is uncommon to catch meningitis from someone with this condition – the infection is often spread by people who carry viruses or bacteria in their nose or throat, but are not ill themselves.

If a doctor, nurse or another healthcare professional fails to identify the signs of meningitis, mistakes it for a less serious condition or fails to provide an acceptable standard of care to you or a loved one, it can lead to serious repercussions, including:

• Life-threatening blood poisoning (septicaemia/sepsis)

• Amputation of limbs or digits

• Permanent damage to the brain and nerves

• Learning difficulties and behavioural problems

• Total or partial blindness

• Total or partial hearing loss

• Epilepsy or recurrent seizures

• Organ failure

• Arthritis and other bone/joint problems

The repercussions of a meningitis misdiagnosis are not just physical – it can permeate every facet of your life. If you can no longer work, you could lose your family’s main source of income, making your future feel uncertain.

Your injuries may also require the permanent addition of aids around the home, in the car or at work. Varying degrees of care may also be required to support you for the remainder of your life.

To give you the ability to maximise your quality of life, and seek justice for the clinical negligence you have endured, our misdiagnosis claims solicitors can provide you with the support and strength to pursue compensation.

Everyone has a right to expect a certain quality of care. And when that care falls below a certain standard, this can form the basis of a medical negligence case.

Whether a healthcare professional fails to spot the symptoms, doesn’t act on warning signs of meningitis, or prescribes the wrong medication, medical negligence can take many forms and have varying degrees of consequences for those affected.

Proving whether the care you or a loved one received was negligent relies on answering the following three questions in the eyes of the law:

• Did a healthcare professional breach their duty of care towards you?

• Have you suffered any financial losses, injuries or pain as a result?

• Was the professional’s breach of duty directly responsible for your pain and suffering?

As medical negligence experts, we seek to create as solid a foundation as possible for our clients so that they can pursue claims for meningitis with confidence.

This often involves having discussions with relevant medical experts to determine whether the treatment received was of an acceptable standard, and if the actions of the accused were reasonable, given the information they had at the time.

To form a complete picture and present a strong case, we devote the time and resources necessary to assess all available evidence, including:

• Medical records

• Personal statements

• Photographs

• Witness statements

As each and every medical negligence claim is unique, it is impossible to predict how long any single case will take to reach final settlement. Nonetheless, in most circumstances we would anticipate a claim to take between two and five years to reach final settlement.

The stance taken by the defendants can greatly influence the time it takes to complete a claim, as can the availability of relevant medical experts and the overall complexity of your specific case.

Whether it's the loss of a limb or the death of a family member, knowing where to start to claim the compensation and answers you and your loved ones so rightly deserve can be overwhelming.

As clinical negligence specialists, our expert solicitors at Gadsby Wicks can guide you through every step of the process so you receive your right to justice.

• We have been providing specialist legal advice since 1993

• We can fund your claim on a ‘No Win, No Fee’ basis

• 96% of claims we handle are settled outside of the courtroom

• We have in-house medical professionals to assist with your case

If you believe that your health or safety has been compromised through no fault of your own, we are ready to help you take action as soon as possible. Complete our online form or get in touch to discuss the details of your case.