Paediatrics Negligence Claims

Paediatric claims result from mistakes in the treatment of children, including:

• Birth injuries
• Cerebral palsy
• Erb’s palsy
• General medicine
• Delay in diagnosis of congenital or developmental hip dysplasia resulting in permanent injury
• Neonatology, dealing with diseases and illnesses early in life
• Neurology, dealing with nervous system conditions such as epilepsy, brain injury, hypoxia
• Endocrinology, dealing with hormone problems in children including diabetes, thyroid problems and growth problems
• Development, dealing with learning disability and physical disability
• Failure to promptly identify, diagnose and treat serious and fast-acting infections such as meningitis, septicaemia, osteomyelitis and tuberculosis
• Failure to diagnose and treat asthmatic attacks or chronic illnesses such as childhood diabetes or epilepsy
• Failure to recognise the significance of headaches and/or deteriorating sight leading to delays in diagnosis of tumours
• Maladministration of drugs and drug doses resulting in permanent disability or death, including chemotherapy
• Failure to correctly identify and treat fractures, generating long-term consequences with uneven or abnormal bone growth
• Complications from tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy
• Undiagnosed seizure disorders (infantile spasms, epilepsy and pyridoxine deficiency)
• Improper treatment of leukaemia

Birth injury following oxygen deprivation

Many medical negligence claims involving children relate to treatment during labour or birth, where injury is caused by oxygen deprivation, delayed instrumental delivery, inappropriate application or excessive traction using forceps or ventouse. These cases often involve brain injury, skull fractures, Erb's palsy and facial palsy. More information can be found in our birth injury section.

Another such category involves treatment and delays in diagnosing typical childhood conditions, illnesses and infections. If these conditions are left untreated, permanent disability or death can result. Young children are particularly at risk of injury caused by delayed diagnosis and incorrect treatment because they cannot communicate and their symptoms are overlooked.

Medical negligence involving children

Paediatric negligence claims are not limited to negligence by a paediatrician. If your general practitioner, obstetrician, nurse, orthopaedic surgeon or any healthcare provider has been negligent in treating your child resulting in an injury, then your child may be eligible for compensation.

Read more about our paediatrics negligence cases.