Appendicitis claims

Appendicitis is relatively common and estimates predict that six in every 100 people in the UK will develop the condition at some point in their lives. It can arise in anyone of any age, although teenagers and young adults are generally the most commonly affected group.

Statistics also confirm that appendicitis is the most frequent cause of emergency hospital admissions for abdominal surgery in the UK, particularly because if left untreated, the inflamed appendix will eventually burst or perforate, spreading infection into the abdominal cavity. This can lead to peritonitis, a serious inflammation of the abdominal cavity's lining which may be life-threatening if not treated promptly.

Unfortunately, appendicitis is often misdiagnosed. While in some instances a diagnosis may be difficult because the condition is at too early a stage or the symptoms are not ‘typical’, we often see cases where the appendicitis has been missed by medical practitioners, despite the patient’s history and clinical examinations which strongly indicate its presence.

In these situations, the delay in diagnosis may cause the appendix to rupture, resulting in more extensive surgery than would have been required otherwise. This can often give rise to significant distress, scarring, prolonged periods of recovery and, in the more extreme cases, can even affect women’s fertility.

The clinical negligence team at Penningtons Manches Cooper has considerable experience in advising people who have developed appendicitis and have concerns about the medical care they received.  Although for some patients a delay in diagnosis will not have any long-term impact, it will leave others with significant problems. We work with them to investigate their claims and look at their resulting needs – sometimes including plastic surgery costs for scarring, claims for restricted employment capacity and awards for fertility assistance. 

In addition to delays in diagnosis, we also assist in cases where there have been failures to provide proper advice about treatment options or in the technical performance of an appendectomy, including failing to remove the appendix completely. These cases can be complicated but our clinical negligence solicitors are able to draw upon their significant track record to offer clients the specialist guidance they need. Our initial consultation is provided free of charge and without obligation. Funding options available include no win no fee (conditional fee) agreements.