COSMETIC SURGERY COMPENSATION CLAIM
Tens of thousands of UK men and women undergo cosmetic surgery every year and although most patients are satisfied with the results many patients suffer disfigurement due to medical negligence which entitles them to receive compensation. The rise in the number of cosmetic surgery procedures carried out in the United Kingdom has been accompanied by a corresponding rise in claims by medical negligence solicitors. More than 50,000 cosmetic surgery procedures are conducted every year with most of them being done privately. The cost of this specialist surgery runs to more £200 million annually. Most of the patients who currently have this treatment carried out are women though the percentage of men undergoing these procedures rises every year.
COMPENSATION HELPLINE 0845 177 0929
Regulatory Body
Many surgeons performing cosmetic surgery have received no formal training, yet continue to practice, due to inadequacies and discrepancies in the law. Recent changes in standards and regulations require new cosmetic surgeons to be adequately trained however medical practitioners registered before the new regulations came into effect are still permitted to practice in the filed of cosmetic surgery without any adequate regulation. While injuries may be caused by under qualified surgeons due to this technicality there are in any event thousands of medical negligence compensation claims every year against those surgeons who are regulated under the recent legislation.
While problems with cosmetic surgery may not be life threatening in the majority of procedures, there are many complaints of medical negligence where surgery has produced excessive scarring or damage to nerves. A regulatory body has only recently been set up in the UK to monitor cosmetic surgery clinics and surgeons. Previously, any medical practitioner could perform cosmetic surgery without the necessary training and, indeed, still do today; however, recent implementation of standards and regulations ensure that training and qualifications of any new practitioners applying to carry out cosmetic surgery mean improved performance. However, with these new laws governing cosmetic surgeons, mistakes still happen and patients still receive unnecessary scarring and other injuries.
Most surgical procedures are carried out efficiently under the skilful hands of certified cosmetic surgeons and their equally-capable medical staff. There are times however when a patient may become injured and require the services of a firm of medical negligence solicitors. It is an unfortunate fact that only doctors who were registered after the 1st of April 2002 are covered by the training and qualification regulations of the Care Standards Act 2000 that was responsible for setting up the National Care Standards Commission which guarantees that private cosmetic surgeons and the clinics within which they operate are subject to central government control. Doctors whose practice pre-dates the 1st of April 2000 cut-off may still practice cosmetic surgery even though they may not have undergone any further specialist training.
COMPENSATION HELPLINE 0845 177 0929
Informed Consent
Some victims of negligent plastic surgery base their claim on the allegation that they never received advice about a possible unsatisfactory outcome and were disappointed or distraught at the final results which may include obtrusive scarring or internal injuries. Doctors are obliged to discuss all possible options with their patients in order to appraise them of the risk that the final outcome may not be what the patient wants and desires. If a doctor has not done so the patients consent is not 'informed consent' and as such the doctor may be liable to pay damages in a medical negligence compensation claim if the result of the surgery is less than satisfactory. Surgery to the face and cosmetic breast surgery result in the highest number of complaints whilst poor surgical technique and lack of after care are another common source of legal action. Some injuries during liposuction, including bowel damage, can be life threatening.
COMPENSATION HELPLINE 0845 177 0929
Time Limits
If you have been the victim of medical negligence you should seek advice from a specialist solicitor at the first opportunity. There are time limits and failure to comply with limitation legislation could mean that the opportunity to claim compensation is lost forever.
COMPENSATION HELPLINE 0845 177 0929
Common Claims
The majority of the claims handled by medical negligence solicitors pertain to sub-standard surgical procedures or aftercare. (especially in the areas of breast or facial surgery). The most common injuries from medical negligence where cosmetic surgery is concerned is scarring relating to breast or facial surgery. Common claims resulting from medical negligence include: lack of explanation of the potential risks and outcome of the surgery; unacceptable scarring following a face lift; excessive scarring and unevenness from a breast enlargement or reduction; scarring and damaging of the bowel from liposuction and nerve injuries following a face lift.
COMPENSATION HELPLINE 0845 177 0929
Specialist Solicitors
Solicitors usually specialise and the Law Society operates a panel of specialist medical negligence solicitors whose members are authorised to apply for legal aid failing which most of them also operate the no win no fee scheme however potential claimants are usually expected to fund their own expenses and disbursements. If you believe you have been the victim of medical negligence through cosmetic surgery and have obtrusive, unwanted scarring or internal injuries, you should discuss your problems and the possibility of a claim against the clinic in question with a medical negligence solicitor.