Gastroenterology Claims

Gastroenterologists treat diseases of the oesophagus (gullet), stomach, small and large intestines (bowel), liver, gallbladder and pancreas. These can include conditions such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Chron’s disease, peptic ulcers, hepatitis, cancers of the bowel, oesophagus and stomach, colon polyps, and pancreatitis.

Our medical negligence team have experience in claims relating to gastroenterology services and in getting the best possible awards of compensation where substandard treatment has been provided. Claims can involve:

• Delays in diagnosis or misdiagnosis of bowel or other gastrointestinal cancers. For example, misdiagnosing cancerous liver lesions on a CT scan as being haemangiomas (a collection of small blood vessels that form a lump) or attributing stomach cancer symptoms to helicobacter pylori (a type of bacteria that can infect the stomach).
• Delays in diagnosis of conditions such as Chron’s disease, ulcerative colitis or gallstones.
• Delays in diagnosis of injuries such as a bowel perforation.
• Mismanagement of test results such as where inadequate communication of results between gastroenterologists, hospitals and patients causes delays in treatment and the patient’s condition is significantly worse as a result.
• Surgical errors including during endoscopy (a test to look inside the body whereby a long thin tube with a camera inside, known as an endoscope, is passed into the body) or endoscopic retrograde cholangio pancreatography (ERCP – a test using a type of x-ray to diagnose and treat problems with the biliary system) procedures.
• Mismanagement of bowel diseases.

These types of issues can lead to significant injuries, including the removal of all or part of the bowel leading requiring an ileostomy or colostomy, and in some cases death. Where injury results from negligent treatment, there may be a legal claim. The amount of compensation obtained will depend upon the type and extent of the injury suffered but may include sums to cover future treatment needs, care and financial losses such as lost earnings, in addition to an award for pain and suffering.

If you or a family member is concerned about gastroenterology treatment they have had, please contact us to discuss how we can help.