When doctors treat patients it is no surprise to know that they must exercise proper care and skill. The standard required is that of an ordinary competent medical practitioner.

It is a high bar. 

A doctor will not be held to have been negligent simply because something went wrong. Things sometimes do go wrong in surgical operations or medical treatments. A doctor is unlikely to be liable for favouring one treatment option over another if another doctor would have also chosen the same path.

Liability though will arise when the treatment falls below the standard of a reasonably competent doctor.  

Unfortunately, treatment can occasionally fall well below that which should have been provided, sometimes with fatal or life changing consequences. For example, where a doctor fails to communicate findings to others responsible for continuing treatment, refuses to examine a patient complaining of serious symptoms, fails to make proper enquiries to find out what treatment a patient has already had or prescribes medication for years on end without any informed review. 

If you or someone you know has been on the rough end of medical treatment you regard as poor or sub-standard, and would like to find out where you stand, ring us on 0800 024 1400 for a completely free no obligation discussion.