Bowel Perforation Negligence

Bowel perforation negligence has potentially fatal consequences and should therefore not be overlooked. While rare, bowel perforations can occur during certain medical procedures such as abdominal surgeries and colonoscopies. If not caught in time, these perforations can lead to infection, sepsis, and in some cases, death.

In the event of a bowel perforation during a medical procedure, it is imperative that the patient receives prompt and appropriate treatment. However, there have been many instances where healthcare providers have failed to diagnose a perforation quickly or neglected to provide the necessary treatment.

A victim of negligence may be entitled to compensation that takes their pain and suffering into account, as well as any additional costs incurred. To determine whether negligence occurred in your case, you should contact an experienced medical negligence solicitor who can review your situation and advise you on how best to proceed.

Here, Potter Rees Dolan takes a look at what you need to know about bowel perforation negligence. 
 

What is a bowel perforation?

A perforated bowel occurs when a hole develops in your bowel wall, part of your gastrointestinal (GI) tract, which runs from your throat to your rectum. Food passes from your mouth through your oesophagus into your stomach, where it is subsequently emptied into your small intestine and large intestine, or bowel. 

What is perforated bowel negligence? 

A perforated bowel consists of a rip or tear in the lining of either the small or large intestine. Waste may seep into the bloodstream rather than being safely absorbed via the body. This can lead to serious, and potentially deadly, infections such as sepsis and peritonitis.

Bowel perforations are not always the result of negligence. Some happen despite medical practitioners taking all reasonable precautions. This is particularly true if the patient has a gastrointestinal condition like Crohn's disease.

When a perforated bowel is quickly discovered by medical professionals, it can be repaired, allowing the patient to fully recover.

Perforated bowel negligence is defined as suffering an injury from an avoidable error. Punctures made during surgery or a colonoscopy are two examples. 
 

Common bowel compensation claim injuries 

The clinical negligence solicitors here at Potter Rees Dolan have experience dealing with claims involving a variety of bowel perforation injuries. Some of the most common injuries we deal with include the following: 

• Bowel ruptures or perforation
• Impediments to regular bowel function 
• Penetrative injury 
• Extensive organ damage as a result of bowel perforation 
   

Contact us 

If you or a family member sustained a cut or perforated bowel, you could be entitled to compensation for the injury, the pain and suffering resulting from the injury and loss of income or earnings if you were unable to return to work for some time.

For more information on making a bowel perforation negligence claim or to start your free no-obligation case evaluation, call us today on 0800 027 2557 or complete our online contact form.