Hospitals are among the most wonderful places one can be. They provide the care and healing that one cannot get anywhere else. But, much as we would like to believe that doctors never make mistakes, the fact is that sometimes, they simply fail to provide the kind of care they should. They make hasty diagnoses, and as a result prescribe medications that are unnecessary and which, in fact, can harm the patient; surgeons may botch operations, resulting in injuries that, in turn, cause complications. Oftentimes, death occurs that could have been avoided. When any of this happens, the patients themselves, or those close to them, naturally feel entitled to monetary compensation.

The number one thing to do is to gather all your medical records together. You should have at least some of these in your possession; send the doctor a written request to release those that are not. The most valuable ones for your case will be those that date from at most two years before the time your incident occurred.

Next, you will have to find a good lawyer. If possible, find one who specializes in medical negligence; and the more experience the practitioner has, the greater your chances are of being able to recover damages due. The best bet would be on a solicitor who has a history of winning lawsuits on behalf of patients. He will be able to judge whether you even have a case at all. Take action as soon as possible; your chances of a successful compensation claim decrease the more time passes since the incident in question. This is also why statutes of limitations exist, which also means that you should consult the solicitor regarding that. In the case of malpractice, the UK has a limit of three years from the date you had your treatment or first realised you had an injury or illness, depending on the case.

One of the first things your solicitor will help you to do will be to write a letter of intent to sue the hospital- a necessary step before beginning the actual process of filing a lawsuit. When putting together your letter, be sure to have the correct contact information for the doctor or hospital in question. Clearly state the reason why you wish to sue, and be as specific as you can as to what you think the doctor did wrong. Your lawyer should be able to help you avoid writing anything that could impede the suit. This letter should be sent by registered mail so you have proof that it was sent, and proceed with your suit only when you receive a response from the recipient or his representative, who have ninety days to send one.

Once you have received a reply and made the decision to press forward with the suit, find an expert witness who can testify on your behalf. Your attorney will look into the defendant\’s past to see if there is a history of being sued for medical negligence and, if possible, will contact previous plaintiffs- preferably those who have won- and contact them so they can appear in court to give testimony.

Ben Greenwood is writing on behalf of Pearson Hinchliffe, medical negligence solicitors with huge experience in suing negligent hospitals and doctors for medical negligence compensation.

Ben Greenwood is writing on behalf of Pearson Hinchliffe (http://www.ph-medicalnegligence.co.uk), medical negligence solicitors with huge experience in suing negligent hospitals and doctors.

Author Bio: Ben Greenwood is writing on behalf of Pearson Hinchliffe, medical negligence solicitors with huge experience in suing negligent hospitals and doctors for medical negligence compensation.

Category: Legal
Keywords: medical negligence claims, medical negligence, medical negligence solicitors, medical negligence com