What is MRSA?
MRSA is fairly common
and can be found on up to 30% of people
usually on the skin or in the nose. For
healthy individuals, the bacteria does not
normally pose a risk, however those that are
unwell or have undergone surgery there is an
increased risk of developing an infection.
Symptoms of MRSA
Dependent upon whether
the MRSA bacteria has caused a skin
infection or entered the bloodstream, the
symptoms and severity of infection can
vary. These symptoms can include:
With some more serious
infections, patients can experience symptoms
such as fever, tiredness and joint pain.
Swabs and sometimes blood or urine samples
can be used to diagnose an MRSA infection.
MRSA Treatment
Most cases of MRSA can
be treated with certain types of strong
antibiotics. This can be a long process
however and can often involve a lengthy stay
in hospital.
A full recovery is
usually possible, however sometimes a
patient will be left with long term effects
such as scarring. Unfortunately, serious
cases of MRSA infection can also be fatal.
Making a Clinical
Negligence Claim
If you have been
affected by MRSA, it is important to seek
prompt legal advice from a specialist
personal injury lawyer. They can collate all
of the necessary information and evidence to
bring your claim and advise you on the best
way forward.
You should try to
record as much information as possible,
including details of any medical treatment
you have received and any expenses you have
incurred relating to your injury/illness.
In every case, medical
evidence will be required and it is
necessary to show that the person you are
making a claim against owed you a duty of
care, that they breached that duty of care
(were negligent), and that the injury or
illness you sustained was a reasonably
foreseeable consequence of that negligence.
MRSA Compensation
There are two elements
to a compensation award.
The first, called
general damages, is for the pain and
suffering you may have gone through and any
loss of amenity (perhaps an inability to
wash your car, look after your garden, walk
the dog). The award for loss of amenity can
be for a short period after you develop MRSA
or for ever if that is what the medical
evidence supports.
Whereas the first
element of compensation cannot make you
better and can only really apologise for the
damage done, the second element of a
compensation award for your losses and
expenses, is known as special damages and
aims to put you back in the same position
financially as if MRSA infection had never
occurred. It is important to remember to
keep receipts for any expenditure you have
incurred related to the illness, so that any
losses or expenses can be reclaimed as part
of your compensation claim.
In serious cases, where
a person may no longer be able to continue
their employment, this will be taken into
account. Costs for care, equipment,
transport and housing modifications can also
be factored into the calculations. If the
injured person is still able to work but not
in the same role as before, particularly if
they held a public service role such as a
doctor or police officer, an extra amount
may be awarded for loss of ‘congenial
employment’. A court can also make a
financial award to recognise that an injured
worker's prospects on the open labour market
may be limited.
If a person is fatally
injured, a dependent relative such as a
widow and children may be able to claim a
statutory sum for their bereavement and
funeral expenses, in addition to sums for
the loss of income and contribution to the
household in the form of future losses
The Solicitors on our
legal panel are experts in all areas of
medical negligence and have extensive
experience in recovering compensation for
the victims of MRSA and other hospital
acquired infections caused by medical
negligence. They can provide specialist
claim advice, assistance and guidance in
helping you to pursue your claim to the best
possible outcome.
Do
I Have A Claim For Medical Negligence?