A GP negligence claim is the most common type of personal injury claim in Ireland. Most people will have to deal with this situation at some point in their life, and it’s crucial that you understand what it means and how to respond if there’s been an accident as a result of a doctor’s negligence.
GP Negligence
The first thing to understand about GP negligence is that it can be difficult to prove. This is because there are a number of factors that need to be taken into consideration, such as:
- Negligence in diagnosis (the doctor’s failure to correctly identify the problem)
- Negligence in treatment (the doctor’s failure to diagnose or treat appropriately)
- Negligence in prescribing medication (for example, failing to provide adequate information about how your medication should be administered).
What is a GP negligence claim?
A GP negligence claim is a civil or criminal claim in which you are suing your doctor for failing to provide them with the standard of care that they should have provided. A GP negligence claim can be made at any time, but it’s best to make one if you’ve suffered an injury and feel like something went wrong.
A GP negligence claim can be made against any health professional who breaches their duty of care towards patients. This includes GPs, dentists and nurses as well as doctors working in other fields such as surgery or cardiology (heart disease).
Consultation with your solicitor
A GP negligence claim is a legal matter, and the steps involved can be complicated. Your solicitor will make sure you understand the process and what to expect throughout the process.
Your solicitor will:
- Check if you have grounds for a claim against your doctor or nurse (this could include things like physical injuries caused by their mistakes).
- Work out how much compensation you are entitled to receive, based on how much harm was caused by their negligence. In some cases this may be as little as €500!
The claim process
If a solicitor is involved in your claim, they will take on the role of gathering evidence and representing you at court. The process is very similar to that of any other personal injury case.
The first step is for them to gather all relevant evidence from witnesses who can testify about what happened to you. This may include photographs or footage of the accident scene, medical reports from doctors who examined you after being injured and any statements made by other people involved such as police officers or paramedics (if applicable).
After gathering this information it’s time for your solicitor to decide whether there’s enough evidence available for them to put forward their case against the driver responsible for causing your injuries. If so then they’ll contact these individuals directly asking them if they will be willing provide testimony during trial – if not then this could mean that there isn’t enough information/evidence available yet!
What to do if you’ve suffered an injury due to negligence by your doctor
If you suspect that your doctor has committed negligence, it’s important that you seek medical attention. If this isn’t possible, then the next step is to contact your GP practice manager or secretary for advice on what course of action should be taken.
If this doesn’t work and you feel that further treatment by your doctor would be helpful in recovering from any injuries sustained as a result of their negligence (or if they have suffered other legal consequences), then it may be advisable to contact an expert solicitor who specialises in patient safety claims such as those arising from medical malpractice cases.
What should I do if I believe my GP was negligent?
If you believe your GP has been negligent, it is important to get in touch with a solicitor as soon as possible. A solicitor can help with the process of filing your claim and will know what documents they need to provide.
If you have not already done so, contact your local GP practice and ask them for their side of the story. You should also try contacting the Medical Council if there was no record of any complaints made against them before contacting us (see below).
A solicitor can help you understand how to make a claim against your doctor.
A solicitor can help you understand how to make a claim against your doctor.
Before making any decision, it is important that you obtain legal advice from a solicitor or barrister who specialises in medical negligence cases. This will ensure that all of your rights are protected and respected at all times during the process. The solicitor or barrister will also be able to give advice on what steps should be taken if there has been an injury due to negligence by your doctor
Conclusion
If you’ve been injured by your doctor, the sooner you act on it the better. Your GP Negligence Dublin should be able to provide answers and help with your claim process. Even if they don’t, a solicitor can explain how much compensation will be paid out if you decide to take legal action against them.
