What can I claim for as part of compensation for being given the wrong medicine dosage in the hospital?
It is difficult to say what you will be able to claim for as part of a claim for compensation for being given the wrong medicine dosage in hospital without first knowing the medical consequences you suffered as a result and the affect it has had on your life since. If you did not suffer any medical consequences — such as an illness, injury, or the deterioration of an existing condition – then a claim for being given the incorrect dosage of medicine in hospital will not be successful.
Furthermore it will have to be established that being given the wrong medicine dosage was due to negligence and who this negligent party might have been. Although this negligent party may seem very seem clear to you, this mistake could have been made due to a variety of reasons, such as the wrong information being provided to the medical practitioner treating you. To find out if negligence can be established it is advisable to contact a medical negligence claims solicitor. A solicitor will be able to inform you for the viability of your claim and try to establish negligence by contacting an independent medical expert. If this medical expert considers negligence to have occurred, your solicitor may proceed with your claim.
What you will be able to claim for as part of compensation for being given the wrong medicine dosage in the hospital will be dependent on the nature of the medical consequences you have suffered, in addition to the particular impact it has had on your life subsequently. Generally the solicitors involved in calculating such a claim settlement will take into account various elements such as age, sex, general state of health prior to the incorrect dosage of medicine given in the hospital, any pain and suffering experienced and loss of amenity. Loss of amenity is when a victim of medical negligence has been rendered unable to take part in regular, everyday activities and also derive enjoyment from the same hobbies that they used to, both temporarily and permanently.
Loss of amenity is part of the area of claim known as general damages. General damages compensates for any non-financial changes as a person has had to make to their life as a result of medical negligence as well as the impact of psychological injuries. With your claim for hospital negligence with medicine, you may also be able to recover any costs incurred such as medical expenses as part of the area of claim which is referred to as special damages.
The only one who will be able to tell you what you could claim for as part of compensation for being given the wrong medicine dosage in hospital is a medical negligence claims solicitor who has been informed of the circumstances in which you were given the wrong medicine and how this has affected your life as a result. After you inform them of this they will be able to provide you with far more specific information than the information that has been provided here. Therefore it is advisable that you contact a solicitor to discuss your claim at the first possible moment.