Each year, Irish health services deal with thousands of cases.

Whether GP or outpatient appointments, inpatient stays, surgical or therapeutic interventions, cancer treatments, or any other type of health service interaction, the overwhelming majority of patients have their diseases, illnesses or injury treated effectively. Few patients expect to find themselves with further injuries as a result of their involvement with the healthcare system.

Despite all of the measures in place within the modern health service to prevent further injury to patients, on occasion, such outcomes do occur. In some cases, these are due to actions (or lack of actions) which would be considered negligent.

What Types of Injuries can Constitute Medical Injury?

By definition, any type or level of health service provision in Ireland which is not performed with due care may be deemed as medical negligence. This might include negligence by or during:

• Accident and emergency practitioners

• Birth

• Cancer treatment

• Cosmetic surgery

• Dentists

• Diagnostic services (e.g. pathology, radiology)

• General Practitioners

• Hygiene and sterilisation

• Mental health services

• Orthopaedics

• Ophthalmologists

• Physical therapy

• Surgery

In many cases, patients are not only emotionally traumatised by the events that have occurred, but they may also be unsure of what happened. Judgement must be made on all of the facts, as not all injuries or damage resulting from the actions of a health professional would be considered, under law, an act of negligence.

If you are unsure whether the circumstances of your case is technically medical injury negligence, please contact our Medical Negligence Team. We will take the time to listen to the details of your injury and advise you of the options available to you. It may be necessary to gather more information to make a clear and correct assessment before making any claim for negligence.