Increase in medical tourism cases underlines the importance of specialist guidance for claimants

Posted: 29/04/2014

Travelling abroad for cosmetic treatment is becoming increasingly popular due to cheaper flights, extensive advertising and heavy price competition by clinics overseas. The industry is booming. As a result, the specialist cosmetic surgery team at Penningtons Manches LLP is noticing a rise in new enquiries relating to those who have travelled abroad for surgery, and have encountered complications as a result.

A variety of important factors should be considered by consumers before having surgery abroad, as outlined in Penningtons Manches' recent news item on cosmetic surgery holidays - click here.

If something does go wrong, potential claimants must be advised about the countries in which they are entitled to bring a claim, whether there are any associated jurisdictional issues, the funding options available and whether the time limits for bringing a claim are different to the UK.

Amy Milner, an associate within the clinical negligence team at Penningtons Manches, said: “We are seeing an increase in new enquiries relating to medical tourism. More often than not, clients have been through an awful time abroad and they need to speak to someone who can advise them not only on the clinical negligence side, but also on what bringing a claim abroad entails. At Penningtons Manches, we are unique because we work very closely with our travel law team, including partner Mark Lee. This means that we are able to provide a client with advice on both aspects, and offer guidance on the applicable law in the country where the treatment occurred.

"Bringing a claim arising from treatment abroad is far from straightforward. It is therefore imperative that anyone looking to investigate a claim uses a solicitor with specialist experience in dealing with international claims as well as expertise in cosmetic surgery and clinical negligence claims.”

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