Gallstone Negligence Claims
If you have endured unnecessary suffering as a result of the misdiagnosis of gallstones, inadequate treatment or complications that have arisen following surgery that should have been flagged, you may be entitled to claim compensation.
The medical negligence solicitors at JMW are here to give you the best possible chance of recovering the maximum amount of compensation. We are accredited by numerous prestigious industry bodies, which have identified the team and head of department Eddie Jones as leaders in their field.
Contact us today for a free, no-obligation chat about your circumstances by calling 0345 872 6666 or completing our online enquiry form and we will be in touch at a time that is convenient for you. Our solicitors can take on cases on a no win, no fee basis.
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How JMW Can Help
Our team of expert solicitors will put you in the best possible position to win your claim and help you recover any costs incurred as a result of your suffering and improve your quality of life. Claiming compensation is essential for helping you to get your life back on track after suffering negligent treatment by medical professionals.
We are well versed in claims against the NHS and private healthcare providers on behalf of clients who have suffered needlessly due to medical negligence.
JMW’s clinical negligence team is led by renowned solicitor Eddie Jones and includes members of the Action against Medical Accidents (AvMA) solicitors panel, as well as the prestigious Law Society’s panel for clinical negligence solicitors.
We handle cases with the utmost care and professionalism, which means you can rest assured that we have the knowledge and experience required to help you with your claim.
FAQs About Gallstone Negligence Claims
- What are gallstones?
Gallstones are hard pieces of stone-like material, made up of different substances including cholesterol, chalk and bile pigment. They are produced in the gallbladder, a small sack lying on the underside of the liver that stores a liquid called bile (also known as gall)
Gallstones are believed to form as a result of excess cholesterol in bile forming into stones
Most people with gallstones don’t experience any symptoms and do not require any treatment. However, when complications occur and the condition is misdiagnosed or not appropriately treated, usually after surgery, or there has been a delay in diagnosis, the patient could be entitled to compensation.
- Who is at risk of gallstones?
Around one in 10 adults in the UK has gallstones. They are typically more common among people who are
- Overweight or obese
- Over 40 years old
- Female, particularly if they have had children
- What are the associated complications of gallstones?
Although most people with gallstones do not have any symptoms at all, complications are often extremely painful. They include:
- Inflammation of the gallbladder (cholecystitis)
- Jaundice
- A stone passing from the gallbladder to the intestine
- Infection of the bile ducts (acute cholangitis)
- Acute pancreatitis
- Gallstone ileus
- What treatments are available for gallstones?
Gallstones are often diagnosed by chance and only need treatment if they cause trouble. They will show up on an X-ray and on ultrasound scanning.
There are different methods of treating gallstones, should they require it. Some stones can be dissolved with drugs. The use of ultrasound waves to shatter the stones into tiny fragments is another method, enabling them to pass safely into the faeces. If these methods fail or are not suitable for a particular patient, then surgical removal of the gallbladder is indicated.
This can be performed through keyhole or open surgery, the former being the method of choice because it is less invasive. The procedure is not without complications, however, and injury to the bile duct and the cystic duct can occur. On the whole, these injuries are not regarded as negligent if diagnosed quickly.
However, ongoing pain and an increased temperature should alert medical staff to the possibility of a biliary leak that may have been the result of an injury during the procedure. This should be investigated immediately, as it can lead to biliary peritonitis or sepsis, which could be fatal.
Most successful litigation occurs in the post-operative period where failure to diagnose a complication occurs and further surgery and treatment is necessary.
Talk to Us
To find out more about making a no win, no fee claim for gallstone negligence compensation, speak to our specialist solicitors today. Simply call 0345 872 6666 or fill in our online enquiry form and we will call you back at a convenient time for you.
