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It’s believed that diabetes leads to almost 9600 leg, toe or foot amputations every year in the UK. It’s also believed that 80% of these amputations could have been prevented with the right support.
Diabetic amputation claims fall under medical negligence. While it’s indisputable that, most of the time, the NHS does a fantastic job of looking after people with diabetes, there are those who have been let down by late diagnosis or inappropriate treatment. If you’ve faced medical negligence resulting in a diabetic amputation, OH Parsons can help you get the compensation you deserve.
One of the more serious side effects of diabetes is the presentation of skin ulcers, or sores, on the feet, caused by peripheral arterial disease (PAD), which leads to a narrowing of the blood vessels and reduced blood flow to your legs and feet. Looking after your feet and treating any sore or ulcers can prevent this from becoming more serious, but there are complications that can lead to amputation.
Another side effect of diabetes is peripheral neuropathy, more often known as nerve damage. This can mean that you don’t feel any pain from your ulcer, and so you continue to put pressure on the wound. Continued pressure and lack of treatment can then lead to infection which, if still left untreated, can penetrate to the bone. Once the infection has penetrated the bone and there is no chance of reversing the damage done, amputation becomes the only option.
As well as causing ulcers and sources, reduced blood flow to legs, feet and toes can also have an impact on healing. Peripheral arterial neuropathy can slow the healing process and make it difficult for your body to fight infection. This means that the ulcer might not heal and lead to tissue damage or even death. If medical professionals believe that there is no way to treat the infection, the best course of action will be to contain the infection through amputation.
In some cases, the condition of a foot sore or ulcer can worsen due to medical negligence or inadequate care. If you believe that you received an amputation that could have been prevented through proper medical care, you may be entitled to compensation. Begin proceedings by reaching out to a law firm with expertise in medical negligence cases, such as OH Parsons, who will be able to evaluate your case to see if you have enough evidence to pursue a claim.
Should it appear that your case has merit, your specialist solicitor will begin to gather evidence to demonstrate that your healthcare provider had a duty of care that was breached, leading to your amputation. Using over 75 years of knowledge, as well as the insights of independent medical experts, we’ll put together your claim to make sure that you get the compensation and justice you deserve. Your solicitor will keep you in the loop every step of the way to make sure you’re fully informed about your case.
With OH Parsons, we offer a no-win, no-fee service as standard. This means our clients don’t have to worry about their legal expenses while also paying for treatment and other medical expenses during proceedings.
The team at OH Parsons are specialists within the field of medical negligence law and have helped countless clients to receive truly life saving amounts of compensation. We understand the incredible impact becoming an amputee can have on your life, and so our expert solicitors will help you to get the justice and compensation you deserve.
If you believe that your amputation was due to medical negligence and could have been avoided, you may be able to make a claim. An expert solicitor will be able to help you evaluate your case to see if you have enough evidence to win your claim.
The time limit for making a diabetic amputation claim, much like any other personal injury or medical negligence claim, is 3 years. This is to ensure that both parties get a fair trial, and evidence isn’t lost over time. If you’re worried that you might be coming towards the end of your claim window, we recommend getting in touch with a law firm today to have a solicitor review your case.
At OH Parsons, we operate on a no-win, no-fee basis. This is to give you peace of mind while you continue to pay for your existing treatments and medical expenses. If your case is successful, we will be able to recover the bulk of your legal fees from the compensator.
The amount of compensation you will receive is based on a number of different factors, including the cost of your ongoing treatment, any lost income, necessary adaptations to your home or car, and even pain and suffering. The more complex and severe your case, the more you will be likely to receive in compensation.
While most diabetic amputations will be of the toe or foot, there may be a need to amputate the leg in some cases. Your doctor or healthcare provider will do everything they can to prevent you from losing your leg, but if there is no other way to remove the infected tissue, it may be necessary to amputate.
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