What Are Gynaecology Negligence Claims?
Gynaecology means the ‘science of women’ and relates to the health of reproductive organs. Women need highly specialised medical care for their gynaecology issues.
Gynaecology medical negligence can happen if a medical professional’s treatment is below the expected standard, for example, if a doctor or surgeon causes further injuries or complications to the patient or if the doctor misdiagnoses an illness. This kind of medical negligence may impact you physically, mentally, or emotionally.
Learn more in our guide to gynaecological claims.
How Do I Know if I Have a Medical Negligence Claim for a Gynaecological Injury?
Gynaecology is a major contributor to medical negligence claims. The most common gynaecology errors are divided into misdiagnosis and treatment errors. It is critical to have a conversation with a specialist medical solicitor for advice before making a claim.
Examples of gynaecology misdiagnosis include:
- Failed or delayed diagnosis, such as delayed cervical cancer diagnoses.
- Misinterpreted test results.
- Missed complications after childbirth.
- Failure to assess a patient’s medical history, give appropriate advice or take consent before procedures.
Examples of gynaecology treatment errors:
- Investigative procedures like a hysteroscopy during vaginal measurement procedures.
- Pelvic floor reconstruction surgeries.
- Laparoscopy (keyhole surgery) errors.
- Damage to internal organs like the bowels, uterus, and bladder.
- Infertility issues caused by failed perforation repair or atrophied womb because of serious infections like sepsis.
- Failed sterilisation, including tubal ligation surgery (‘getting your tubes tied’).
- Unnecessary hysterectomies.
- Patient neglect, including receiving a poor physical examination, the wrong medication, or incorrect investigative work.
Other injuries that may result in gynaecological surgery claims can be related to other pregnancy prevention and contraceptive methods, including perforation of the womb during the insertion of a coil or a pregnancy termination procedure.
Our Gynaecology Negligence Claims Process
Claiming compensation for gynaecology medical negligence can be emotionally and physically challenging. That’s why our experienced team is with you every step of the way to offer guidance and support when making your claim.
We understand that it can be difficult to know where to start with the claims process and whether you can claim, so we encourage you to get in contact with a member of our team to discuss your situation.
To see our experts in action and learn more about how we can help you, please refer to our case studies, including:
- £80,000 damages for bowel injury during gynaecology surgery
- £160,000 claim for injury during gynaecological procedure
- £500,000 for a delayed endometriosis diagnosis
- £500,000 for our client who suffered bowel perforation during surgery to remove a fibroid
Read more of our gynaecology case studies.
Talk to Us about Your Gynaecology Claim
Our expert team of solicitors has over 30 years of experience dealing with gynaecology claims and will do everything we can to achieve fair compensation for the negligence you have suffered.
If you think you have been affected by gynaecological medical negligence, please do contact our friendly team of specialist lawyers to discuss your next steps. Most of our medical negligence claims are conducted under conditional fee agreements, so our clients can focus on starting their recovery without worrying about how they will fund a claim. We look forward to hearing from you.
Gynaecology Medical Negligence FAQs
What is the impact of gynaecology medical negligence?
Gynaecology negligence can have very severe consequences, including:
- Infertility
- Birth injuries
- Delayed diagnoses
- Chronic pain
- Psychological distress
- Organ damage
- Infection
- Risk of future pregnancy
We understand that making a gynaecology medical negligence claim can be incredibly personal and difficult, which is why our team is with you every step of the way to guide and support you through the claims process.
What are the time limits for gynaecology medical negligence?
There is a three-year time limit for issuing Court proceedings for medical negligence claims, including gynaecology negligence claims. This time limit begins on the surgery date or from when you first experienced your injury due to the treatment. If you feel you or a loved one are a victim of medical negligence, we advise you to begin your claim as soon as possible.
We are no strangers to taking on cases with a good chance of success, even if there is time pressure. So, if you think you have left it too late to make a claim, please get in touch regardless, and we will do our best to help you. In some circumstances, the courts allow claims to proceed outside the usual primary time limit.
How much compensation can I get for a gynaecology negligence claim?
The amount of compensation you will be able to retrieve for your gynaecology medical negligence claim depends on your case's severity. Talk to one of our experts to get a clearer idea of how much you may get.
How long does a gynaecology medical negligence claim take?
A gynaecology medical negligence claim usually takes a few years to complete. However, it can take longer depending on factors such as the complexity of the case and the evidence gathered.
What are the different types of gynaecological injury?
Whilst medical professionals typically take steps to prevent gynaecological negligence, injuries can sometimes still occur, such as:
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Perforation
Various problems can occur during treatments, such as perforation of the womb. Perforation can occur during the insertion of a coil or a pregnancy termination procedure.
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Hysteroscopy complications
Investigative procedures, called ‘hysteroscopy’, can also end up with injuries. Failures to measure the length of the vagina and womb can lead to instruments being inserted too deeply. Routine hysteroscopy procedures can also be conducted by those less experienced in their field.
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Infection and sepsis
Delays can lead to infection and sepsis. Sepsis can lead to the loss of the womb (‘hysterectomy’). Even if a hysterectomy does not result, women can be left with shrunken (‘atrophied’) wombs after serious infection cases. This can mean that they can no longer carry a baby to term or deliver a baby safely. It can even mean that a woman cannot opt for egg retrieval to allow for surrogacy, as egg retrieval becomes too dangerous.
