Patients call for changes to hernia mesh surgeries
A hernia is a condition where an organ pushes through a weak spot in surrounding muscle or connective tissue. This results in an uncomfortable feeling and, more often than not, a visible bump which usually requires surgery to fix. An estimated 40,000 Australians have hernias surgically repaired every year, making it one of the most […]
(FAQ) What constitutes nursing home negligence in NSW?
When placed in a nursing home or aged care facility, the elderly are dependant on the staff who work there. However, reports of mistreated patients and misconduct within staff are all too common across Australia. Such examples, while appalling, also illustrate that aged care facilities sometimes breach that expected duty of care. This breach provides […]
Court sides with defendant in medical negligence case
In a court of law, it's not overly common for a plaintiff to leave with orders to pay the defendant's costs – after all, they were the one seeking the initial application. However, like the below case demonstrates, this outcome can occur, and often comes with surprising twists. Background of the case The plaintiff alleged […]
Dentist faces potential loss of licence in medical negligence battle
Medical negligence isn't just confined to an operating table. It can occur in a number of medical institutions, including the dentist's chair. Here we dissect a recent case brought before the NSW District Court. Background of the case The case centered around a dentist (the subject) who was working in the Broadmeadow region. After practising […]
Woman awarded $1.6 million in medical negligence appeal
Emily Pierce has had epilepsy since she was six, though her fits didn't get bad until she was about 14. At the age of 19, Pierce was referred to a neurologist in Brisbane, and then in Victoria in order to pursue a surgery that would cure her epilepsy. In order to determine whether or not Pierce was […]
Nurses reprimanded after patient death misconduct
The NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal has ruled that two nurses were guilty of professional misconduct in relation to a patient's death in 2013. When a medical practitioner's behaviour falls below the expected standards of the profession, they may be deemed negligent. This can result in significant payouts for damages if their actions lead to […]
Doctor loses negligence case following botched brain surgery
A doctor who performed brain surgery to remove a patient's tumour was negligent in his duty of care, according to a recent NSW Supreme Court judgement. The plaintiff suffered catastrophic complications after the endoscopic operation, which involved the medical practitioner going up through the nasal cavity to take out the tumour. Following the procedure, the […]
Will $3.8m medical negligence payout be 2017’s biggest?
A successful medical negligence claim can result in compensation for a wide range of costs, including hospital bills, past and future lost income, care expenses and necessary home modifications or disability aids. Payouts can therefore be considerable if the patient suffered extreme and permanent injuries or illnesses as a result of treatment. This is especially […]
Wife pursues medical negligence appeal for cancer misdiagnosis
The wife of a man who died from a misdiagnosed melanoma has launched an appeal after her medical negligence claim was twice rejected. Her husband first sought treatment from his local GP in September 2009 after a painful lesion developed on the sole of his foot. The doctor diagnosed a plantar wart, and it was […]
Care home reported after maggots found in resident’s wounds
Doctors made an official complaint against a Canberra care home after one of its residents was sent for emergency treatment with maggot-infested wounds. Peter Tunnecliffe, a 77-year-old dementia sufferer, was living at the Southern Cross Care facility in Garran when he was rushed to Canberra Hospital for treatment to cancer lesions on his face and […]
