Medical negligence claims and junior doctors
Often, when junior doctors make a decision in a medical environment, they have to make a another one about whether or not they should check it with a superior. If they constantly check medical opinions that they did not need to, they do not develop their confidence in their skill as doctors; if they fail to check medical opinions that they should have checked, they can miss out on learning important diagnostic tests, and leave themselves open to a medical negligence claim.
Hospitals are expected to have a system in place to watch over their junior doctors, involving rounds and supervision, to help them keep this balance between expanding their abilities and knowing their limits.
The Bolam test, usually used in the UK in a medical negligence claim, is to ask if an average doctor at the same level of expertise would have acted in the same way as the doctor being claimed against. For a junior doctor, this should include the question of whether the average junior doctor would have checked their work with a senior team-member. Read more about the Bolam test.
The effects of an unchecked misdiagnosis can be very serious for both the patient and the doctors involved. In recent years, a case in Southampton in which the patient died saw not only two junior doctors being convicted of gross negligence manslaughter, but the hospital also facing a large fine for failing to supervise the junior doctors adequately.
Making a medical negligence claim
If you believe you have suffered during clinical treatment, whether at the hands of a junior doctor, a GP, or a consultant, and you are considering making a medical negligence claim, YouClaim can help. We can advise on the specific details of your case, and provide you with access to our team of personal injury solicitors, all of whom are governed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
We will not pressure you into making a personal injury claim, and make a 100% compensation promise on every case, meaning that no cut will be taken from any damages awarded to you in a successful medical negligence claim. Read more about funding a medical negligence claim.
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