Brain Tumour

Medical negligence relating to brain tumours can have devastating consequences on a person’s life.  If medical negligence leads to avoidable harm, the impact can be life changing, depending on the complexity of the condition and the severity of the impact.  

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These are some common examples of medical negligence claims involving brain tumours:

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Misdiagnosis or Delayed Diagnosis of a Brain Tumour

This is probably the most common form of medical negligence relating to brain tumours.   This can happen if healthcare providers fail to recognise the symptoms or misinterpret diagnostic tests such as MRI scans or CT scans.  

Depending on the length of the delay, a delayed diagnosis may result in a progression of the tumour, making it more difficult to treat and in some cases, it may even reduce the chances of survival.

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Failure to carry out appropriate investigations

Healthcare professionals may be negligent if they do not recognise the symptoms of a brain tumour and so fail to order necessary tests.

For example, if you repeatedly saw your doctors because of headaches, vision problems, or seizures, but they do not request investigations, such as an MRI or CT scan, this could be medical negligence if it causes a delay in diagnosis.

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Surgical Errors

Surgical removal of a brain tumour is a complex procedure that requires expert surgical skill. Surgical errors, such as damage to surrounding brain tissue, nerves, or blood vessels, can occur during an operation. Not all errors will be negligent.

If there was an error during surgery and it was avoidable because it was caused by the incompetence of the surgeon, then it may be negligent if it leads to additional complications.

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Follow-up Care

After surgery or other treatments for a brain tumour, patients usually require close monitoring and follow-up.  The recovery period may be just as crucial to detect any signs of recurrence or complications.  

If there are delays in identifying post-treatment complications, this may be negligent.

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Medication Errors

Medication errors, such as incorrect dosages or using the wrong medication could cause avoidable consequences for a patient with a brain tumour and could be medical negligence.

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