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Medical Negligence: What It Is And How To Claim

March 13, 2013 by

Medical negligence may not be something that people would ever want to think about, but whether it is intentional or not, sometimes it does happen. When incorrect or inferior healthcare is administered it can mean a misdiagnosis which can lead to pain, injury, financial loss, mental issues or even death in extreme cases. The situation can be caused by the NHS or in private healthcare, but either way, you may be able to claim medical negligence compensation to help you through tough times.

Your first concern should be to get back to full health, or at least start down the right road again. It can be hard, as being a victim of medical negligence can knock your confidence in medical professionals. Getting the right treatment and physiotherapy is the best way to get back on your feet, but sometimes you will require help to get the best treatment, which is why it can be a good idea to start a claim for compensation to help you get the treatment you deserve.

medical negligence

It can be more difficult to claim for medical negligence compensation because it needs to be proven that your injury or illness was caused by incompetent healthcare or a lack of judgement. It also needs to be proven that this negligence caused the injury, rather than it been a possibility that could have happened anyway.

Luckily, within the medical profession there is a lot of paperwork, double checking and confirming information – with the express intent of reducing cases of medical negligence. In rare cases, cracks can appear, but the things that do work can help people claim as there is often a large amount of paperwork and other traceable items which can help claimants.

Some people choose not to claim as it can be a very sensitive time and they do not want to be intruded upon any further – which links back to the feeling of vulnerability and distrust. There are companies out there such as claims.com who deal with clients on a one-on-one basis and ensure that the client feels comfortable with the whole process and outcome.

Don’t suffer in silence or struggle along, compensation is available for a reason. If you think you are eligible, get in touch with professionals to find out more.

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Filed Under: General Health, Health Conditions, Health Education, Health Professions

The Dangers Of Asbestos

August 8, 2012 by

For most people now asbestos is something from the past that was dangerous, but are not worried about now. This isn’t true though; there are many still suffering from the effects during its use and stories of people finding it during building work even today.

The diseases that are related to asbestos are very debilitating and often terminal. As the disease becomes apparent many years after initial exposure, it often builds upon existing health problems too. For those who are diagnosed with the disease it is a good idea to file an asbestos compensation claim straight away to speed through the process. It may not be the first thing that is thought about after a diagnosis, but the money gained can help a lot with care during the later stages of asbestos related illnesses.

There are a few diseases directly linked to asbestos exposure:

Mesothelioma: This is a form of cancer that is almost solely caused by exposure to asbestos. The disease develops when malignant cells develop in the mesothelioma, which is a protective lining that covers the body’s internal organs. This happens mostly in the pleura (lining between the lungs and the internal chest wall), but can also occur around the heart, peritoneum (around the abdominal cavity) or pericardium (a sac that surrounds the heart).

Asbestosis: Asbestosis is a chronic inflammatory condition that affects the tissue of the lungs. It occurs mostly after long, heavy exposure to asbestos fibres. It is considered an occupational lung disease. Sufferers of asbestosis have severe dyspnea (shortness of breath) and increased risk of different types of lung cancer. The primary symptom of asbestosis is shortness of breath; in severe cases this can lead to repertory failure. Coughing is not usually a symptom of the disease itself, but through other complaints it can easily aggravate the lungs and exacerbate existing conditions.

Lung Cancer:This is a disease of uncontrolled cell growth in tissue in the lung. Lung cancer is the most common form of cancer in men and the second most common in women and is responsible for 1.3 million deaths worldwide each year. The most common symptoms are coughing, shortness of breath, coughing up blood and weight loss.

Pleural Thickening and Scarring:When asbestos particles are breathed in, they bypass the lungs filtration system due to the fact they are so small. This causes the areas around the lungs to become inflamed of scarred. This creates a layer of density between the lungs and the chest wall, which can impair breathing. If it builds up, it can cause the cells to become cancerous which can then lead to mesothelioma.

If you know you have been exposed to asbestos in the past, it is a good idea to keep regular checkups with your doctor, so that you can be diagnosed early should the worst happen.

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Filed Under: Health Conditions Tagged With: ,

Diabetes and teenagers

January 22, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Teenage diabetes has seen a rapid increase in the UK due to an increase in child and teenage obesity, which is linked to a poor diet and a lack of exercise. Research shows that teenagers are living an increasingly sedentary lifestyle, choosing to spend time watching television, using the Internet and playing on computer games, rather than participating in sports or outdoor activities.

Type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is not usually associated with young people; however, in recent years, rates of type 2 diabetes amongst young people have soared. Type 2 diabetes is often linked to obesity; it is a lifelong condition, which affects the body’s ability to regulate blood glucose levels. Type 2 diabetes occurs because the body does not produce sufficient amounts of insulin to control blood sugar; it can also result from the insulin not working as it should do.

Common symptoms of type 2 diabetes include:

●      Thirst

●      Frequent urinating, especially during the night

●      Weight loss

●      Loss of muscle mass

Preventing type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is commonly associated with an unhealthy lifestyle and obesity; by taking a few steps, you can dramatically reduce your chances of developing the condition; these include:

●      Exercising on a regular basis

●      Eating healthily and cutting down on fatty, sugary and salty foods

●      Giving up smoking (if applicable)

●      Cutting down on drinking (if applicable)

Type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is much less common than type 2 diabetes; it is usually known as juvenile diabetes because it is most common amongst teenagers. Type 1 diabetes occurs as a result of the body not producing any insulin; this means that the body cannot control blood glucose levels.

Managing type 1 diabetes at school and college

Type 1 diabetes is a potentially serious, lifelong condition, which must be monitored very closely. Insulin must be pumped or injected into the body on a daily basis and this can interfere with daily life, especially when you are busy at school or college or you are going out for the day. Make sure that people around you know that you are diabetic and ensure that they know where you keep your insulin injections. When you are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, you will be referred to a multi-disciplinary team, which will cater for all aspects of your treatment. They will teach you how to inject insulin, which foods to eat and which to try and avoid and give you treatment to ease any symptoms you may develop. Type 1 diabetes can take some adjusting to but you will soon get used to your daily routine and there will always be people around to help you or give you information.

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Diabetes symptoms

January 1, 2011 by Leave a Comment

The different types of diabetes have similar symptoms, as they do for the different age groups including teenage diabetes, but symptoms of type 1 diabetes tend to develop very quickly, while those associated with type 2 diabetes develop gradually. Consequently many people with type 2 diabetes have the condition long before they are diagnosed because the symptoms are fairly general and people do not necessarily realise that something is wrong with them.

Type 1 diabetes symptoms

Symptoms of type 1 diabetes usually develop quickly, over the course of a few days; they include:

●      Unquenchable thirst

●      Dry mouth

●      Weight loss

●      Loss of muscle mass

●      Urinating frequently

●      Cramps

●      Constipation

●      Skin infections

●      Recurrent episodes of thrush

●      Blurred vision and dry eyes

People with type 1 diabetes do not produce any insulin and this means that their body cannot regulate blood glucose levels; as a result, glucose levels may drop and this is known as hypoglycaemia. Symptoms of hypoglycaemia include:

●      Sweating

●      Tingling lips

●      Hunger

●      Weakness

●      Nausea

●      Feeling shaky

●      Becoming irritated easily

Type 2 diabetes symptoms

Many people with type 2 diabetes experience symptoms but do not go to their doctor because the symptoms are general and they are not specific to diabetes. Common symptoms of type 2 diabetes include:

●      A constant thirst

●      Going to the toilet frequently, especially during the night

●      Weight loss

●      Feeling very tired

●      Losing weight and muscle tone

Less common symptoms of type 2 diabetes include:

●      Blurred vision

●      Itchiness around the genitals

●      Recurrent bouts of thrush

●      Longer healing time for cuts

Type 2 diabetes prevents the body from being able to control blood glucose and this means that blood sugar levels can become very high; this is known as hyperglycaemia. Symptoms of hyperglycaemia include:

●      Extreme thirst

●      Blurred vision

●      Drowsiness

●      Frequent need to urinate

●      Dry mouth

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What is a diabetic?

September 9, 2010 by Leave a Comment

A diabetic is a person who has diabetes; there are two types of diabetes, type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes tends to develop in younger people and is much less common than type 2 diabetes; type 2 diabetes tends to affect people over the age of 40 and is commonly linked to obesity; around 90 percent of diabetics in the UK have type 2 diabetes.

Who can get diabetes?

Diabetes can affect people of all ages and backgrounds but it tends to affect certain groups more commonly than others:

Type 1 diabetes: type 1 diabetes may often be referred to as teenage diabetes or juvenile diabetes because it tends to develop in teenagers and young people. There is evidence to suggest that family history plays a part in type 1 diabetes; if you have a close relative with the condition, there is a 6 percent chance of you developing the condition. If you do not have a relative with the condition, there is only a 0.4 chance of developing type 2 diabetes; type 1 diabetes affects only 10 percent of diabetics in the UK.

Type 2 diabetes: type 2 diabetes is much more prevalent in the Asian community than the white community; figures suggest that people from Asian communities are six times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than white people. Rates of diabetes are also higher in people of African-Caribbean and Middle-Eastern heritage.

Type 2 diabetes is also commonly linked to obesity; carrying weight around the middle is especially dangerous and if your waist is over 31.5 inches (females) or 35 (for Asian males)-37 inches (white or black males), you will be at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is also more common in people over the age of 40 and if you have family history of the condition, you will have a higher chance of developing the condition.

Life as a diabetic

Most people with type 2 diabetes can reduce their symptoms and control their blood glucose levels by adapting their lifestyle; eating healthy foods and cutting down on fatty and salty foods, exercising on a regular basis and cutting down on drinking and smoking can often make a huge difference and may mean that the individual does not need treatment.

People with type 1 diabetes rely on insulin injections or pumps to allow them to control their blood sugar levels; this can affect their daily life as they have to eat at certain times and develop a routine for injecting insulin. Type 1 diabetes can also affect the ability to eat certain foods and partake in physical activities. Type 1 diabetes usually develops during the teenage years and these years can be challenging enough without having to worry about diabetes as well. Those with teenage diabetes may struggle as they go through puberty because blood sugar levels are more difficult to control; if you are having problems coping with diabetes, see your care team or your GP or contact Diabetes UK or a local diabetes charity for help and advice.

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