High Hospital Death Rates: Medical Negligence Cause for Concern
We all put our trust in the services of the NHS – when our lives depend on it, they’re the experts we count on to save our souls. So it’s disturbing to hear that, according to sources from the BBC, a leading expert has stated an investigation should take place into 25 hospitals for higher than normal death rates (source).
Leading health expert Professor Brian Jarman has questioned the reasons that a total of 4,600 more patients died in the trusts in question in 2007-08 (with each of the trusts in question having at least 150 more deaths than expected in the year!) than would normally be expected. He also advised that a higher than normal death rate does not necessarily mean the hospital was doing anything wrong, but it could help to identify “wider problems” .
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OK – so its another article on a few road traffic stories again – but as I have said before, they are the most common type of accident we specialist Injury Lawyers represent injured claimants for. And as a little warning for you, we are expecting the weather to worsen this week (and there was me thinking it was getting better), according to sources from the Mirror (source).
The Met Office has issued a severe weather warning, with the worse hit areas expected to be in the North East and the Scottish Borders. Just this morning I myself was caught up in traffic with the M1 at a standstill; assumable due to an accident, or in some way relating to the weather. So take extra care on the roads I the coming days!
So, a couple of high profile instances in the news recently. According to sources from the BBC, football legend Paul Gasgoine has been formally charged with driving under the influence of alcohol; an act which I am sure you are all aware is a serious offence carrying hefty penalties. He has also been charged with driving without insurance and without a license (source).
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I’ve done a few articles over the last few months on the topic of product recalls. The big one I am sure you all know about is the ongoing Toyota recalls. But its difficult to hear of a product recall that has become existent following the deaths of product users; and even more so that the cases involve young children…
According to sources from Sky News, two popular baby slings are being recalled in the UK following links to the deaths of three youngsters in the US (source).
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I’m sure that most of you will now be familiar with the devastating story of 11 year old Sam Linton whom died after suffering a fatal asthma attack at School.
On 4 December 2007 Sam began to suffer with an asthma attack during school hours. Sam’s school, Offerton High School in Stockport, knew of Sam’s condition and when the attack began he was taken to sit in the School corridor with his inhaler.
After a couple of hours Sam’s condition was not improving and the school decided to call for his mother. His mother has described that he son was ‘grey’ in colour when she arrived at the school and ‘his lips were blue’.
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Toddlers Jaw Ripped off by Dog!
Just after my recent post about the government declining canine insurance cover, I read about the tragic story of a young girl viciously attacked by a dog; leaving her with horrific and serious injuries…
The dog in question is said to be a family dog, and not of a breed currently illegal in the UK; a French Bullmastiff. According to sources from the Daily Mail (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1260070/Girl-2-jaw-ripped-family-dog.html) the animal turned on the young girl and ended up ripping her jaw off, and was subsequently killed by the girl’s father whom saved his daughters life by stabbing the animal with a kitchen knife.
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Helpless driver caught under the bumper of a tanker at 60mph!
Roads are dangerous places – it’s a fact! And as safe as we make them with speed limits and the strict rules of the road, on occasions accidents just cannot be avoided. As specialist personal injury lawyers, we represent countless victims in traffic accidents – and we have seen some remarkable collisions over the years, believe you me!
But this next story really is remarkable! I can honestly say I have never heard of anything like it before! And thankfully, tragedy was averted.
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Government Say No To Canine Cover Insurance
Animal attacks – they do happen! We luckily live in a country with a minimum of angry animals that could do us some damage. But the claims for canine injuries are common when it comes to animal attacks. And an injured victim has the right to claim for compensation they are legally entitled to for their suffering. But there can be significant difficulties in claiming for damages for dog attacks.
You may have noticed that in the last few months or so, dog attacks have been an issue in the press – with some breeds actively condemned for their potentially dangerous behaviour. So in light of this, the government have been debating on whether compulsory insurance is required to cover dog owners for such eventualities in the same way we motorists required to insurer our cars. But according to sources from the BBC, the government have ruled against the compulsory insurance just a week after suggesting the idea (source).
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Claiming For Asbestosis – The Case of Fairchild
It is a sad fact that in previous years many people have worked in unsafe environments in buildings where they have been exposed to Asbestos. An unfortunate side effect of this is that they may succumb to the illness Mesothelioma – a lung tumour caused by exposure to asbestos. The question is can they claim and if so how?
The situation in the case of Fairchild v Glenhaven Funeral Services was exactly the same as the situation above and all the individuals claiming had contracted Mesothelioma through working for several different employers over a period of years.
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Claiming For Psychiatric Illness : The Legacy of the Hillsborough Disaster
One of the blackest days in recent sporting history happened in April 1989 at Hillsborough Stadium during an FA Cup tie between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest when officers with South Yorkshire Police caused the stands where spectators were sitting to become overcrowded which in turn caused 95 people (mainly Liverpool Supporters) to be crushed to death.
One the outcomes of this was a case called Alcock v Chief Constable of South Yorkshire which was heard at the House of Lords and is relevant in dictating who is allowed to bring a claim for psychiatric illness.
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The Duties of Professionals – What You Should Expect
At some point in all our daily lives we deal with professionals whether it be our local doctor or solicitor. In today’s blog post I will provide a review of the case which dictates (in legal terms) the level of service you should expect from professionals.
The case is Bolam v Friern Hospital Management Committee, and the facts of it were that the Claimant (Mr Bolam) was suffering from acute depression and was undergoing electric shock treatment to treat this. The unfortunate effect of this for Mr Bolam was that it caused him to have muscle spasms which were so severe it caused his pelvis to be fractured. As a result Mr Bolam sued the hospital treating him and argued that:
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