Personal injury due to medical errors? Get free advice!

Questioner

At the end of February 2012 my ankle split. I went to the GP and he referred me with a letter to the hospital for an X-ray. After this was made I was sent away with the message: It is NOT broken. If you have any further questions, please contact your GP. I went there a few times and/or called to ask what to do about the swelling and the severe pain. He also assumed that it was not broken based on the results from the hospital. After walking like this for 3 weeks with painkillers/elevating/cooling my leg etc. I contacted the GP for the umpteenth time. A substitute was shocked and referred me to the hospital. Again for an x-ray. After that I was told that there were seriously complicated fractures. An operation followed. 12 screws + 2 plates and plaster. After 1 week a check-up. It turned out that the wounds were infected and as an emergency a splint was put on my leg instead of plaster. In case of wound fever, go straight to the emergency room. Something went wrong with the splint. One of the crutches slipped and I hit the wall with my operated ankle. The screws came loose. Operation 2 followed. Screws + plates again. Then I went to the nursing home for 9 weeks. On June 20, 2012 I was allowed to go home. No more plaster cast. Physiotherapy. I continued to have pain and there was little improvement, including the pain and the fatness. On August 30 I went to the trauma doctor and he said: The x-ray that was taken looks fine! You can do anything. I asked for another inspection date. No, that was not necessary. Only if the ironwork had to be removed. Despite the positive messages at the time, things did not go well. In December 2012 I was told that there was no bone growth. The ironwork was partially broken. Operation 3 followed on January 23, 2013. A piece of bone from my hip was placed in the ankle. Old plates/screws removed and new ones inserted. A pen is inserted from under the foot into the bone. I have spent an incredible amount of money on care providers and personal contributions. Certainly last year: Euro 3,500. = Now it all starts again. My wallet is empty and I can't take it anymore. The hospital has been held liable. They have acknowledged that the x-ray of March 7, 2012 was not viewed properly. If my ankle had been put in a cast immediately, I would not have needed any operations or a rehabilitation center. So the ERROR lies there and if that had not been the case I would have been spared a lot of misery (and pain)! The fourth operation is coming up. Probably in 4 weeks (if all goes well) to remove the pin. To start with, an amount of Euro 3,500 was requested. Now they come up with an argument that it is my fault that the screws came loose during the splint due to, among other things, putting pressure on the leg. That is not true. I hit my leg by shooting away from the crutch. That can happen anywhere. Besides: If the hospital had paid attention, this would never have happened. My question: Can they blame me for this in order to pay less money to me? It's their FAULT, isn't it? (Rontge March 7, 2012). I have a certificate of consent WRONG from the hospital. It is regrettable that this happened. But I am stuck with it. The bills for the third operation are pouring in. Home care, home help, private individuals who provide manual labor and receive money from me for it. My joy in life is also gone because of all this. How much compensation can I claim in the future? I am at my wits end and I can't take it anymore. It will be 1 year soon. Give tips regarding the loosening of the screws. All this happened due to the carelessness of the radiologist March 7, 2012.

Lawyer

Dear questioner, Based on your extensive story, I advise you to contact a personal injury specialist. They have a medical advisor who can medically assess your file. Based on that, the hospital's position can be assessed and your actual damages can be assessed. These could well be higher than €3,500, because you are also entitled to compensation for pain and suffering. Because the hospital acknowledges that the x-ray was not examined properly, they will also have to reimburse the (reasonable) costs for legal assistance. Legal assistance costs you nothing. If you would like, I could also assist you. You can reach me via the direct contact button.

Lawyer

Dear questioner, Now that the hospital has made a mistake, it is liable for the damage you have suffered. This damage is the difference between what would have happened if the correct diagnosis had been made immediately and what has now happened (so-called delay damage). In addition, it must be assessed to what extent you have been treated adequately afterwards. This is a difficult subject that is almost impossible to understand without a medical advisor and a specialized lawyer. If the other party is liable, they must also pay the costs of a personal injury lawyer and medical advisor in addition to the damage. If you live in the Westland area, I would be happy to assist you. You can reach me via the direct contact button. Success!

Lawyer

When I read your extensive story, I would like to wish you a speedy recovery. You have had so much misery and probably also suffered a lot of pain, while none of this was necessary. I advise you to have an injury expert take a good look at the case with you and see what can be done for you. Because although you have already written an extensive story, all the details are important. And as my colleagues have already noted, the costs of an injury expert are usually paid by the insurance. If you wish, I can assist you in this case and I am happy to give you advice without any obligation.