Misdiagnosis claims

At Penningtons Manches Cooper, a large number of the medical negligence claims we deal with arise from diagnostic errors. Whether a condition is missed, diagnosed incorrectly, or not identified soon enough, the consequences can be extensive and, in some cases, life-altering. Our expert misdiagnosis solicitors offer clear and practical advice on the strength of your medical misdiagnosis claim and the compensation that may be available.

Compassionate legal advice on medical misdiagnosis claims

A misdiagnosis occurs when a healthcare professional provides an incorrect or delayed diagnosis or fails to make a diagnosis altogether. These errors often result in improper treatment, unnecessary surgery, or the progression of a serious illness that could have been managed or cured with timely care. Common issues include failing to take a full medical history, disregarding a patient’s symptoms, misreading test results, or standing by an initial assessment despite signs that the diagnosis was wrong. Such negligent treatment can cause further complications or reduce life expectancy.

Examples of medical misdiagnosis that we regularly advise on include cancer misdiagnosis, failing to identify complications in pregnancy, missed appendicitis, incorrect reporting of radiology, missed signs of brain injury, incorrect medication, stroke misdiagnosis and cardiac misdiagnosis due to failure to act on red flag symptoms. These situations can occur in both NHS and private healthcare providers. When medical professionals fail to identify or respond to warning signs, the patient can suffer harm that might otherwise have been prevented.

Medical misdiagnosis claims often relate to delayed diagnoses, where the correct diagnosis is eventually reached but too late for effective treatment. These delayed diagnosis claims can have serious consequences for the patient, including avoidable pain, unnecessary treatment, and loss of function. Where incorrect diagnosis leads to the wrong treatment or further injury, the legal claim must consider the full impact on the patient’s life and recovery.

When you make a medical misdiagnosis compensation claim, our medical negligence team will examine your medical records and all the evidence to understand where the failings occurred and how they affected your condition. We work closely with independent medical experts to assess liability, causation, and long-term effects. We can also seek interim payments where appropriate, to cover urgent costs while your misdiagnosis compensation claim progresses.

This practice exudes professionalism coupled with the ability to make their clients feel very relaxed and at ease in their presence.

We understand that the decision to make a medical misdiagnosis claim is not taken lightly. We provide clear advice on the claims process, including time limits and how much compensation may be awarded. We are able to offer support under a no win, no fee agreement, reducing the financial risk of pursuing a claim.

If you have suffered harm due to a medical misdiagnosis and want to claim compensation, we can help. Contact our specialist medical misdiagnosis solicitors to arrange an initial consultation without charge.

How we help our clients

Advice on claims for misdiagnosis, including delayed, incorrect or missed diagnosis

Support with reviewing medical records and identifying negligent treatment by healthcare professionals

Guidance on eligibility for medical misdiagnosis compensation and the legal process

Representation in medical negligence claims involving serious complications or long-term consequences

Assistance with interim payments and managing legal fees under a conditional fee agreement

Expert analysis of medical evidence, including test results and history of symptoms

Instruction of highly regarded and experienced medico legal experts

Clear explanations of how much compensation may be awarded and what losses can be recovered

Comprehensive legal support for clients treated by NHS or private medical professionals

Useful resources

Making a medical negligence claim

Funding a medical negligence claim

They have genuine strength in depth and are really down to earth, committed, and true specialists in their field.

The team were extremely professional and competent and I always felt that my case was in very good hands. Above this, however, I appreciated their kind and sympathetic manner through the process.

First class: professional, friendly, sensitive and ultimately successful! Thank you so much.

I felt that my solicitor was really fighting for what she thought I deserved. She was a great match. Her advice was important to me.

Everyone at Penningtons has always treated me with respect and compassion and done their best to help with my situation. I feel the whole team really have my best interests at heart.

Recent work highlights

Tragic loss due to cardiac misdiagnosis

Successfully pursuing a claim for a widower whose wife died following her GP’s failure to recognise the symptoms of unstable angina or acute myocardial infarction and sent her home with a diagnosis of gastritis.

Misdiagnosis of colorectal cancer

Winning a settlement for a husband whose wife had complained of bowel problems to her GP for nearly three years. When a diagnosis was finally made, the cancer had become widespread and tragically caused the woman’s death.

Missed congenital abnormality

Acting for a young girl whose health visitor failed to identify a congenital hip dislocation during her checks on the baby. The delay resulted in multiple operations to correct the deformity which have limited her mobility.

Failure to diagnose Cushing’s disease

Successfully settling damages for a child whose paediatrician failed to identify or test for Cushing’s disease. As a result, our client suffered symptoms of weight gain, hair growth and high blood pressure and developed depression.

£750,000 settlement for diagnosis delay

Achieving a settlement of £750,000 for a young man with suspected cauda equina syndrome who suffered significant delays in diagnosis and treatment which left him with symptoms affecting his urinary, bowel and sexual function for life.

Late diagnosis of deaf child

Securing damages of £4 million for a girl whose severe deafness was not diagnosed for some years following referral to audiologists. The delay in fitting cochlear implants affected her language development and cognition as well as her education and earnings potential.

Case studies

The claimant was a renal transplant patient requiring immunosuppression with drugs including tacrolimus. She brought a claim for alleged failings in her medical care.

The claimant was reviewed at her GP surgery after an episode of vaginal bleeding. It was noted that this was a ‘one off episode’. A cervical smear and a high vaginal swab were performed to exclude any abnormality.

We have settled a claim on behalf of a client who fell and fractured her ankle. After being examined and having her ankle X-rayed at the A&E department at Frimley Park Hosital, she was reassured that it was only a soft tissue injury and was discharged home to attend physiotherapy.

We concluded a claim for a woman who was informed she had pancreatic cancer and underwent major surgery to remove her pancreas, only to be told her tumour was benign.

We have settled a tragic case involving the sudden and unexpected death of our client’s husband from undiagnosed acute aortic dissection (AAD) whilst in hospital.

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