Medical Negligence Solicitor?

[hellgirl]

Hello

Can anyone recommend a medical negligence solicitor please.

Thank you

Do you want to say what region or city, it will make a difference where you are based.
Sorry you find yourself needing this advice.

Hi

Oops, that might help!

I'm in the South East.

xx

For adult, child , elderly. What type of "error"

We went to our local solicitor and they had a medical negligence specialist. Much easier with them being local and they took the case on a no win no fee basis.

Hi

My daughter had swollen optic nerves, which were clearly seen on a scan photo of the back of her eyes. The optician told me her optic nerves were fine.

The optician did not refer her to hospital.

I took my daughter for a second opinion as I have severe anxiety. I took a copy of the photo and the swelling can clearly been seen on the photo.

The second optician did refer her to hospital and boom, severe hydrocephalus and a brain tumour.

It's been absolute Hell. If I had just gone with the first opticians, my daughter may have gone blind or might not even be here any longer.

I would like to claim from the first optician for failure of duty of care.

xx

www.professionalstandards.org.uk/what-we-do/our-work-with-regulators/find-a-regulator/general-optical-council I would suggest that you start by reporting the optician to the relevant body.

What was the time difference between the 1st and 2nd opinions? Am not sure how successful a claim for something that 'might have happened' will be. Fortunately because of your persistence you have not suffered any loss as a result of their inaction (unless the delay caused the tumour to become more advanced).

Thank you.

The time difference was 2 weeks but the swollen optic discs could clearly be seen on the photo from the first optician.

My issue is that my daughter should of have referred in the first instance.

As far as I know swollen optic discs are a red flag and need to be taken very seriously.

Am not disputing that your daughter should have been referred. It sounds like the optician was negligent in not doing so and should be investigated by the appropriate channels. However I think you need to be realistic about your chance of succeeding with a negligence claim, as fortunately your daughter did not suffer any loss as a result of their action.

This must be a very difficult situation to be in. Good luck.

The General Optical Council is the regulator for opticians. They can take action against a practitioner not providing the correct standard of care.

Apologies to the poster who identified the GOC upthread - I missed the link

Unless dc came to harm (I know it was putting her at risk but that is different.) & required more medical intervention than she would have done (I doubt) it wouldn't be worthwhile
Contrary to popular belief a decent lawyer will not offer no win no pay unless they have a high level of success & you still have to pay upfront for medical expert to assess case -
This cost a few thousands
(personal experience - & there was severe harm & suffering - great solicitor who helped)

I'm really sorry to hear this as an optometrist, I'm glad your daughter is now getting the care she needs and hope it all goes well.

The 1st optometrist needs to be investigated and their competence needs to be assessed so report to the practice manager in the first instance and the GOC if the response is not satisfactory. Swollen optic discs is a really 'hot' topic in the industry since the Honey Rose case (google it, but basically she got done for manslaughter for missing OD swelling in a child) a few years ago and there's no excuse for missing this.

I have to say if it was one of the large multiples (Specsavers / Boots etc) they'll probably offer you compensation even without getting a solicitor involved

@princesspenny

Hi, yes, I did read the Honey Rose case - truly devastating.

I did speak to the practice manager and she was awful - she said she couldn't comment as she was not the one doing the examination on my child!

When I told her my daughter had severe hydrocephalus, all she said was to please keep in touch and let her know if there was anything she could do! She was totally dismissive.

I keep asking her why my daughter's swollen optic nerves were not noted even though they were as clear as day on the Optomap photo and again, she said she couldn't comment as she was not the one dealing with my daughter at the time.

I asked the optician at the time if the optic nerves were ok, as I know you can tell a lot from an eye exam and the optician said they were fine. Apparently the swelling was seen on the slit lamp exam too!

After Googling, even I could tell they were swollen on the photo!

This was a small independent opticians that my family have used for many years.

I'm so disgusted, you go to a medical professional and believe what they say.

I will complain to the GOC as I wouldn't want this to happen to anyone else.

Thank you x

@allPatrickSmithUS

Thank you so much xx

Unless your daughter actually suffered some harm as a result of the two week delay in referral caused by the first optician you won’t have a claim. For example if you could prove that between the first examination and when you visited the second optician your daughters condition deteriorated and she permanently lost some vision which could have been prevented with an earlier referral.

I would make a complaint to their governing body to ensure the first optician is investigated and undergoes some training.

Thank you all.

I am definitely going to report her to the GOC tomorrow.
xx