When you visit your GP, you trust in their ability and expertise and they have a duty of care to ensure you are properly looked after. In most cases, patients are happy with the treatment they receive from their GP and all goes well. However, mistakes can happen which can break that trust by resulting in further illness or injury to your physical and/or mental health. And it’s not just because our doctors aren’t as good as they should be – it’s because they’re being pushed to work faster and more efficiently than ever before, which means that they have less time to spend with their patients.

It’s important to be aware that you can file for GP negligence compensation in Ireland if you have been harmed by a doctor’s actions or inaction. GP negligence can also be a result of actions that your GP hasn’t taken. Even if you’re not sure what’s causing your symptoms, it can be frightening to feel like your doctor isn’t dealing with them properly or isn’t taking them seriously enough.

Online Claim Assessment

Take our online assessment and we will perform a thorough case review. All assessments are 100% cost and commitment free.

If you have been injured due to your GP’s negligence, then you should contact us at O’Brien & Company Solicitors to speak with one of our experienced GP medical negligence solicitors about your options moving forward. We will listen carefully to your story and gather the details to help you determine if you can sue your doctor for negligence and what type of compensation you can expect.

What is GP negligence?

As you’re likely already aware, a general practitioner (GP) is a medical doctor who provides primary care and treats common illnesses, such as colds and flu. A GP can also provide some specialist care if they have enough training in the field.
‍
GP negligence is a type of medical malpractice that occurs when a patient’s doctor fails to meet the standard of care. That is, the standard of case that a reasonable doctor would have provided under similar circumstances. A breach of this duty of care will still be considered negligent whether it is intentional or unintentional.
‍
In Ireland, it’s common for patients to have the same family doctor for decades, and this can make them reluctant to file claims for GP negligence. Perhaps you feel it wasn’t intentional or wasn’t the fault of your GP. This is understandable but it is important to remember that your GP has a duty to provide you with the best possible care. If you have been a victim of GP negligence you deserve to be compensated for the pain and suffering you have endured as a result.

Are You Eligible For Compensation?

If you want to obtain compensation for the negligence you have suffered contact us today.

What are the most common types of GP negligence?

The most common types of GP negligence are failure to diagnose and misdiagnosis. This is one of the most commonly seen medical malpractice claims and often a result of a cancer misdiagnosis. You may be familiar with the CervicalCheck scandal in 2018 which was one of the most notable cases reported in the media in this regard. In that year, a total of €158m was paid to patients who were victims of a cancer misdiagnosis.
‍
Some of the most prevalent types of GP negligence include:

  • Not following up on test results.
  • Prescribing the wrong medication or dosage: a GP must also ensure to check the safety of taking multiple medications together.
  • Failing to diagnose a problem or disease.
  • Failing to refer patients to specialists when needed.
  • Failure to diagnose an illness or condition.
  • Failure to provide adequate treatment for an illness or condition.
  • Failure to refer a patient for further treatment when needed.

It is also the responsibility of your GP to explain any side-effects or risks you are exposed to by not undergoing a medical treatment, test, procedure, or prescribed medication. It may also be considered medically negligent if they do not explain the clinical risks associated with the procedure or treatment you have consented to which then results in damage or injury..

How to file a GP negligence case in Ireland?

If you have suffered harm due to the actions or inactions of your GP, you may be entitled to bring a medical negligence compensation claim against them. In order to prove GP negligence, you must show that:

  • The standard of care provided was not that of a competent GP.
  • This negligence caused you damage or injury.

If you are concerned about the treatment provided by your GP and believe you have suffered damage due to mistakes made on their part, we may be able to assist you in seeking a claim for GP medical negligence. Our solicitors have many years of experience in dealing with such claims and we will provide you with honest and confidential advice regarding the validity of your claim. We understand that dealing with the aftermath of GP negligence can be extremely stressful for both you and your family members. We will take the time to listen to your story and gather all of the details to see how we can help you to move forward and get the compensation you deserve.

As specialists in the area of GP negligence, our solicitors are dedicated to providing a safe space for our clients to discuss their concerns and achieve the best possible outcome in GP negligence cases. We pride ourselves on our empathetic and sensitive approach to these cases and we look forward to hearing from you should you wish to discuss your case. Call 01-8746959 to speak with us today or submit a query on our contact form and we will get back to you to discuss further at your convenience.

Contact us now
in confidence.

O’Brien & Company Solicitors has a wealth of experience and a history of success in personal injury and medical negligence cases.

We pride ourselves on achieving the best results for our clients whilst at the same time making everything as straightforward and clear for you as possible.