Medical negligence
Appendicitis misdiagnosis claims
Appendicitis is a common condition that is easily treatable if caught and treated promptly. Where medical mistakes have led to misdiagnosis or delays in treatment, the consequences can be serious, and you could be entitled to compensation.
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What is an appendicitis misdiagnosis claim?
The appendix is a small pouch that's joined to your bowel and can be found in the lower right side of your abdomen. Appendicitis occurs when there is swelling and infection in your appendix. It usually causes pain and needs urgent treatment in hospital. It is not known exactly what causes appendicitis, but the organ itself does not have any known function and removing it should not cause any harm. It is a very common condition, affecting roughly 50,000 people every year. It can affect anyone, though is most common in people aged between 10 and 30 years.
When appendicitis is diagnosed and treated quickly, a full recovery is very common. Unfortunately, early symptoms can sometimes be missed, or misinterpreted. This can lead to a delay in treatment, which can result in severe complications such as a burst or ruptured appendix, sepsis, or even death.
As appendicitis shares symptoms with some other abdominal conditions, it can often be misidentified as things like:
- Gastroenteritis (a stomach bug)
- Severe irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- A bladder infection
- A urinary tract infection (UTI)
- Constipation
No one should have to suffer the consequences of negligent treatment. If you or a loved one has suffered avoidable harm due to delayed or misdiagnosed appendicitis, you could be entitled to make a clam for compensation.
What are the symptoms of appendicitis and how should it be treated?
Diagnosing appendicitis isn’t always straightforward as only around half of all cases present with typical symptoms. Some of these symptoms include:
- A pain that starts in the middle of your stomach that comes and goes, before moving to your lower right-hand side and becoming constant and more severe
- Nausea (feeling sick)
- Vomiting
- A loss of appetite
- A high temperature and flushed face
- Constipation or diarrhoea
Treatment for appendicitis generally involves surgical removal. It is a very common operation known as an appendicectomy or appendectomy, and in the majority of cases it goes very well. The surgery is performed under general anaesthetic and will either be:
- Keyhole surgery: if possible, your doctor will usually prefer to remove your appendix through keyhole surgery as recovery is much quicker. It involves a few small incisions in your abdomen to allow surgical equipment, including a small camera, to be inserted.
- Open surgery: this is used if your appendix has already burst, or if you’ve previously had open abdominal surgery, and involves a single larger cut. It can take 4 to 6 weeks to fully recovery from open surgery.
What you need to know about bringing a medical negligence claim
Medical negligence specialist, Ian Cohen, explains what a clinical negligence claim involves and how a lawyer can help when a hospital is found at fault for injuries sustained whilst in care.
Can I make an appendicitis claim?
To make a claim for appendicitis misdiagnosis or delay, you’ll need to prove that there has been a breach in the duty of care owed to you by your doctor. You’ll also need to be able to prove that their negligence directly caused you illness or injury.
To do this, we’ll help you collect the evidence you need to support your claim, including medical records, witness statements and independent expert evidence.
Why should I choose Slater and Gordon?
At Slater and Gordon, our medical negligence solicitors have many years’ experience in handling a range of cases, from the straightforward to the complex. We work hard to ensure our clients not only achieve the best financial outcome but can rest easy throughout the process knowing everything is well taken care of.
Our industry-leading team are consistently ranked highly in independent legal directories, such as Chambers and Partners, and the Legal 500, and are proud to have helped numerous clients achieve the compensation they deserve.
Our team members also include trained nurses and medical professionals who provide expert knowledge, helping us to secure the best possible outcomes and allowing our clients to focus on their recovery.
I just wanted to say thank you so much for everything Slater and Gordon have done to fight this case for us. I appreciate it has involved a lot of people. Please can you also thank the expert witnesses who have provided their expertise and help. Mr and Mrs H (medical negligence client)
I cannot recommend Slater and Gordon enough, throughout the entire period of the case, all the staff have been both very professional, and supportive. Mr Q (medical negligence client)
Kept informed regularly as to how my claim was going, prompt replies to any questions I had, excellent customer service at all times. Excellent service from all staff that have been involved in my claim. Ms S (medical negligence client)
Why choose Slater and Gordon?
No Win No Fee
We offer 'No Win No Fee' funding on cases of medical negligence, meaning there's no financial risk to you.
Talk to the experts
We have teams of legal experts who specialise in representing those who’ve suffered injuries as a result of medical negligence.
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Our in house medical team provide us with advice and assistance allowing us to determine when and where your medical treatment became substandard.
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Frequently asked questions
Is there a time limit for making an appendicitis misdiagnosis claim?
Generally, a claim should be made within three years from the date the negligence occurred or the date you were first aware that you had suffered a significant injury or illness due to negligence. However, there are exceptions.
To read more about the time limits of making a claim, please read our medical negligence FAQs or our medical negligence claims guide.
How much compensation could I receive for an appendicitis misdiagnosis claim?
As every negligence case is different, it can be difficult to establish the final amount of compensation you could be entitled to without first reviewing the full circumstances of the case.
In general, the final amount of compensation awarded will be based on the severity of the injury and the effect the injury has had on your life. Additionally, you'll also be able to claim for any lost earnings, any long-term care rehabilitation and any necessary house adaptations to maximise the chance of recovery and independent living.
To establish your full legal position, call us on 0330 041 5869 or contact us online here.
How long will it take for my appendicitis misdiagnosis claim to settle?
It can be difficult to determine how long it will take to settle your appendicitis misdiagnosis claim, as there are a variety of factors that can influence the timeline. For instance, one of the first things our solicitors will aim to do is establish liability – that is, receiving an admittance of at least partial blame by the other side. How long this takes can vary quite a bit.
In general, the more complex your case is, the longer it will take to reach a settlement. It is therefore strongly advised that you speak to a specialist medical negligence solicitor as soon as you feel ready. You can speak to a member of our team by calling 0330 041 5869 or reaching out to us online.
Can I make a No Win No Fee appendicitis misdiagnosis claim?
The majority of our medical negligence claims are funded by a conditional fee agreement, otherwise known as a No Win No Fee agreement.
This means if you lose your case, you won’t have to pay any fees and therefore, there’s no financial risk to you. For further information about No Win No Fee agreements, read our medical negligence fees page.