Diagnosis Failure & Misdiagnosed Appendicitis Claims

Failure to diagnose and operate

Appendicitis occurs when the appendix becomes inflamed and swollen with pus. It is usually the prelude to the appendix bursting, which can be deadly. The usual treatment is to remove the appendix before rupture occurs and if this achieved, sufferers will usually sustain no long-term damage.

However, the failure to operate in time can have extremely serious consequences for the patient. A ruptured appendix can cause the contents of the intestine to spill into the abdomen, a condition known as peritonitis, which is life-threatening.

Before making a claim it is worth taking note of the following point.

Check that your medical issues are grounds for negligence, and not a simple complaint procedure. Complaints about procedure dissatisfaction, or seeking an apology / admission for lack of care / treatment should go to PALS.

When you might have a claim

Injury, continuous pain or loss due to the act of a practitioner or general lack of care at the NHS is an entirely different matter. You might very well have a claim. The duty of care might have been breached meaning the health care professional/s did not provide the expected level of care. If you believe you deserve compensation you may have a medical negligence claim. Read more about how to claim against the NHS here.

Misdiagnosis is common

Initial symptoms are pain and tenderness on the right side of the patient’s lower abdomen, which becomes increasingly painful when pressure is applied. Other symptoms can include nausea, constipation and fever. If the symptoms are typical of appendicitis, the doctor should make a diagnosis of appendicitis and arrange appendix removal as soon as possible.

Unfortunately, the symptoms of appendicitis are not always consistent and misdiagnosis is common, which is a frequent cause of medical negligence claims. If typical symptoms do not present themselves, appendicitis can still be diagnosed through an MRI, CT or ultrasound scan. Read more>> how to sue for medical negligence