Cauda Equina Syndrome Compensation Claims

If you have had cauda equina syndrome and you believe the condition was not appropriately managed by medical professionals, you may be wondering whether you could be entitled to pursue a compensation claim.

Can I claim compensation for cauda equina syndrome?

In order to pursue any type of medical negligence claim, it is necessary to prove firstly that medical professionals did not provide an acceptable standard of care (known as a breach of duty), and secondly, that this substandard care caused you to suffer injury (known as causation).

1. Breach of duty

Any reasonably competent medical professional should be able to recognise the red flag symptoms of cauda equina syndrome and make a speculative diagnosis of spinal nerve compression. Urgent steps should then be taken to verify this diagnosis. If cauda equina syndrome is indeed present, emergency decompression surgery should be performed. If these steps are fulfilled in a timely fashion, the standard of care will be considered acceptable.

However, medical professionals often fail to meet this standard of care, either because a wrong diagnosis is made or because they do not appreciate the urgency with which treatment must be given.

2. Causation

Because cauda equina syndrome is a medical emergency, serious consequences will ensue if there is a delay in diagnosis and treatment. Therefore if medical professionals do fail to make a timely diagnosis and/or provide urgent surgery, it will almost always lead to complications such as urinary incontinence. If these complications could have been avoided with better medical care, there will be grounds for a compensation claim.

How do I know if I can claim compensation for CES?

If you would like to know whether the care you received amounts to medical negligence, all you need to do is contact a solicitor who specialises in cauda equina claims. After a discussion about your treatment and the complications you have been left with, a solicitor will be able to suggest what options are available to you, and whether or not this includes making a claim. If you are able to pursue legal action, your solicitor will handle the claim on your behalf, working hard to obtain the compensation you deserve.

Speak to a solicitor today

To find out whether you could make a claim for cauda equina syndrome, get in touch with us today. We are experts in cauda equina claims and will be more than happy to give you expert legal advice.

Please call us free on 0800 234 3300, from a mobile click to call 01275 334030 or complete our Free Online Enquiry for a no cost, no obligation opinion.

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