What is Medical Negligence?

Despite the fact that health care in this country is generally of a high standard occasionally things do go wrong. This is particularly true nowadays when treatments can be highly technical and complex and many different health care professionals are involved in the care of each patient. If the results of treatment are not as good as expected, or if complications have arisen, it does not automatically mean there has been a mistake or someone is to blame.

However, sometimes doctors and other health care workers do make mistakes that could have been avoided with more care, skill or organisation and this is called clinical (or medical) negligence. An operation may be incompetently performed, or a GP may fail to recognise the seriousness of symptoms or a baby may be damaged because of a mishandled birth.