Irrespective of where you are in the world the expectation of the duty of care owed by medical professionals to their patients should be to the highest standards and consistent. The current coronavirus crisis has sharpened the awareness of medical risk in hospitals, generally. The importance of scrupulous medical care by highly qualified professionals has been strongly been brought into focus. Piero Mastrosimone, head of the personal injury team, commented "all too frequently a sudden medical emergency abroad evolves into a situation where medical standards slip unnoticed which results in avoidable harm," Piero further commented "often the situation is amplified by the language barrier. If you have experienced medical negligence following an accident, or illness or an elective procedure abroad you may be entitled to compensation."
Experiencing an accident or illness abroad when you are hundreds of miles from home is distressing enough but to then recognise that the medical care you have received has harmed you is very frightening. Botched surgery; ineffective treatment following an accident; late or misdiagnosis of injuries received overseas, as well as preventable infections acquired in hospitals are all avoidable and you are entitled to make a claim for compensation in such circumstances. It is possible that in the crisis of your emergency you do not immediately recognise that your treatment in the foreign hospital was in fact negligent, or this only becomes apparent once you are back at home. The period of time within which you must bring a claim varies quite widely from country to country; in the UK the time limit is three years but in some countries it is a little as12 months or even six months. It is never too soon to start a claim as the repercussions arising from medical negligence can have a profound effect on your health and ability to work, in some cases, for the foreseeable future.
It is understandable that an injured person wishes to focus on their recovery and may be daunted by the prospect of undertaking a cross-border claim. Giambrone's personal injury team has expert lawyers in the UK as well as lawyers in Spain, throughout Italy and Tunisia, a claim for compensation for medical negligence or an accident can be managed through the City of London office with no need to travel and in English. Another key factor is cost and there are funding options, dependent on the circumstances of the situation, which may be able to be of assistance.
The rise of advertising campaigns aimed at encouraging individuals to go abroad and undergo a range of elective medical procedures on a private basis has led to a surge in clinical negligence cases. Typically advertisements are placed in the UK where supposed medical consultations are provided in the UK before the patients fly overseas for surgery or a dental procedure some other medical process with the assurance of aftercare in the UK on their return. Often cosmetic surgery is offered at a considerably reduced cost which makes it impossible to achieve promised results. Increasingly, individuals are lured abroad for orthopaedic surgery, including hip replacements, due to the long waiting lists in the UK. Unfortunately results are far from flawless cosmetic results or pain-free mobility often leaving the patient in pain and suffering.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
