What is general practitioner negligence?
would have been able to identify your symptoms and treat them accordingly. Finally, it also has to be established that because your GP did not refer you to a specialist, you suffered the avoidable and quantifiable deterioration of a physical condition.
With so many contentious issues attached to general practitioner negligence claims, the Injuries Board Ireland will decline to process an application for assessment of compensation for GP negligence, and you will have to engage a solicitor to act for you to request access to your relevant medical records.
A solicitor will first request access to your relevant medical records, which will then be presented to a medical expert. The medical expert should be able to ascertain whether your GP was justified in refusing to refer you to a specialist on medical grounds and also that a specialist would have identified the symptoms that your GP was unable to.
The claim process for GP Negligence
- Assessment by a medical expert: A medical expert evaluates how your health has suffered due to your GP’s actions. Suppose a significant deterioration or permanent condition of the GP’s negligence causes a substantial decline or permanent condition caused by the GP’s negligence. In that case, the medical expert will recommend pursuing a claim.
- Letter of Claim:Â Your solicitor sends a Letter of Claim to your GP, informing them of the negligence claim and requesting a response. If a serious health issue is evident and negligence is not in doubt, the GP will be asked to make an offer of settlement.
- Involvement of medical insurers:Â The GP typically forwards the claim to their insurers, who investigate the case. During this process, liability for negligence by GP will need to be re-established.
- Acceptance of liability: If the medical insurance company accepts that GP negligence occurred, your solicitor will calculate the compensation amount based on the extent and severity of the injury. Your age, sex, and general health before the negligence. The General practitioner’s negligence had an impact on the condition.gligence by GP will need to be re-established.
- Calculation of Compensation: Compensation is based on various factors, including the deterioration in your quality of life or reduction in life expectancy. Financial costs incurred due to the GP’s breach of duty. Each case is unique, even if the reasons for the claims are similar.
- Establishing Negligence: The GP must be proven negligent before the compensation amount can be determined. Due to the complexity of general practitioner negligence claims, it is crucial to consult an experienced medical negligence solicitor as soon as possible.
Statute of Limitation
The legal time limit to make a general practitioner negligence claim is two years from the date of injury or date of knowledge that the injury or illness resulted from general practitioner negligence. For children/minors, the time limit expires two years after their 18th birthday. You can contact a solicitor to talk about your case and inform you about the statute of limitations applicable to your case.
