Plastic Surgery is surgery carried out to reconstruct or repair damaged or missing skin and tissue and to restore function of skin and tissue to as close to normal as possible.  Plastic surgery includes surgery for burns, congenital abnormalities, reconstruction after some cancer surgeries and reconstruction and repair following an accident or injury. Plastic surgery is funded by the NHS.

Cosmetic Surgery is an elective surgical operation solely to enhance a person’s appearance.  Unless there is a medical need, the NHS will not pay for cosmetic surgery. The most popular cosmetic surgery procedures are breast augmentation (“boob job”), rhinoplasty (“nose job”) and abdominoplasty (“tummy tucks”).

During a difficult time, representation by a lawyer at the hearing may result in further evidence and information being discovered which could be extremely useful to the family.

The legal representative may also be able to help the family influence the types of questions asked by the Coroner, as well as the evidence called. In turn, this may assist the family to gain a better understanding about what happened, gain the closure they deserve and could also possibly assist in any potential future compensation claim.

A post-mortem is a medical examination of the deceased, to determine the cause of death. It can also be referred to as an autopsy. 

It is possible that new and unexpected medical details are obtained about the cause of death, via a post-mortem. Such information could prove invaluable in terms of any compensation claim.

It is important that a defendant is informed of the death and provided with the coroner’s details once a claim has started. This is because the civil court may not allow a compensation claim to be pursued, if the defendant has not been provided with the chance to obtain the necessary medical details.

In some DVT cases, there are few or no symptoms that this condition exists. However, possible signs of DVT include:

• Swelling and pain experienced in the leg, usually in the calf area

• Aching within the affected area

• Warmer skin where the clot is present

• The appearance of the skin becoming red below the back of the knee

GPs often refer patients for a specific blood test called a D-dimer test, if they suspect DVT. This test can detect broken down pieces of blood clot within the bloodstream.

A large quantity of blood clot pieces is a warning sign that a blood clot is present. The reliability of this test has been questioned though because the number of blood clot pieces present in the bloodstream can increase for other reasons. For example, after an operation or during pregnancy. Therefore, often an ultrasound scan will also be required before DVT can be properly diagnosed. 

ENT surgery is a term used to cover all surgical operations performed by specifically trained otolaryngologists on the ear, nose or throat.

ENT surgery may be performed for the following reasons:

• Pain experienced in the face
• Tinnitus (i.e. a persistent ringing in the ears)
• Removal of obstructions from the nasal passage
• To treat sleep apnoea (i.e. when your breathing stops and starts whilst you sleep)
• Rhinoplasty (i.e. a nose job).

Multiple eye procedures exist. The list below contains examples of the most common procedures which can result in negligence claims:

• Cataracts surgery – an ophthalmic surgeon removes a cloudy lens from the eye and it is replaced with an artificial lens.
• Glaucoma surgery – excess fluid is removed which causes increased pressure in the eye. If left untreated this could result in damage to the optic nerve.
• Retinal detachment surgery – an ophthalmic surgeon corrects a detached retina in order to save the patient’s vision and secure the retina in place whilst it heals.
• Surgery for eye conditions relating to diabetes – an example is surgery performed to rectify damage to the eye’s blood vessels. 

The effects of negligent eye treatment can be life changing since we are all dependent on our sight. Daily tasks can prove more challenging without support. Some of the most common consequences of negligent eye treatment include:

• ·         Blindness
•  Difficulties with night vision
•  Over-correction or under-correction of a patient’s sight
•  Ptosis (i.e. drooping of the upper eyelid).

The cornea covers the front of the eye, protecting it and focusing light. It is strong and durable in nature but can be subject to damage during procedures. Possible side effects include:

• Infection
• Scarring
• Corneal haze (i.e. mistiness of vision which is long term in nature).

Problems with the heart can be life changing. Delays in treatment, incorrect diagnosis and inadequate treatment can all lead to injury which may otherwise have been avoided. Some examples of common heart problems include:

•  Hypertension (i.e. abnormally high blood pressure)
• Arrhythmias (i.e. irregular heartbeat)
• Aortic aneurysm (i.e. abnormal widening in the wall of the major blood vessel, the aorta)
• Endocarditis (i.e. infection of the inner lining of the heart chambers and heart valves)
• Coronary heart disease, angina and heart attacks. 

Gastroenterology claims often include:

• Delay in diagnosis
• Negligent diagnosis of bowel disease
• Negative side effects resulting from the prescription of medication for bowel disease
• Sub-standard treatment during endoscopy procedures (i.e. when an instrument is used to view an internal part of the body).