Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Negligence Claims

Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Negligence Claims

Ear, Nose and Throat surgery (ENT) covers a wide range of surgical procedures and tests carried out by Otorhinolaryngologists, also called ENT Surgeons. They deal with the diagnosis and treatment of conditions that occur within the ears, nose, and throat, but also the neck, sinuses and any other issues local to that area of the body.

In many cases the procedures can be relatively straight-forward, including some that are performed to improve patients’ quality of life, such as treatment to reduce or stop snoring, or the removal of nasal obstructions. In other cases the treatment can make the difference between life and death, such as treating nasal or paranasal cancer before it can spread.

No matter what type of procedures the ENT team carry out, there is always a risk that something might go wrong, either during the diagnostic phase (testing to find out what the issue is) or during the treatment or post-operative care phase. In some situations these mistakes do not constitute negligence as all surgical procedures carry risk, and if a complication does occur it cannot always be blamed on the medical team. However there are far too many examples where negligence does play a part, and if this has affected you or someone you care for then it is likely that you will be eligible to make a claim for compensation.

Loss of Hearing
Any kind of surgery on, within, or near the ear can bring with it the risk of damage to hearing. The inner workings of our ears are incredibly sensitive to any kind of change, particularly in the case of surgery. We’re always told not to put anything into our ears, yet in cases where surgery is necessary there are likely to be a range of tools used to make any surgical changes – just one slip and the patient’s hearing can be permanently reduced or even lost entirely. For more information about loss of hearing click here.

Loss of Taste or Smell
The frustration of losing one’s senses of taste and smell is common to anyone who has suffered from a bad cold but imagine if those senses never returned. Surgery within the throat, nose or nasal passages is an incredibly delicate science that needs absolute precision when performing any kind of procedure. One tiny slip, or the misplacement of a needle or scalpel can have devastating effects on the patient. For more information about loss of taste or smell, click here.

ENT Misdiagnosis
Like any other branch of medicine, there is a risk within the Ear Nose and Throat department that doctors and medical professionals can make wrong diagnoses that can go on to have serious repercussions for the patient. For more information about ENT Misdiagnosis click here.

Nerve Damage to the Face
When performing ENT surgery precision is paramount – any tiny slip or misjudged insertion of a needle or scalpel can have devastating results such as nerve damage that can leave patients permanently disfigured. For more information about nerve damage to the face click here.

Vocal Cord Damage
Professional singers and actors rely on their voices for their sources of income, but that doesn’t mean that if you’re not Adele your vocal cords aren’t important. Talking and expressing ourselves through our voices is something that almost all of us learn to do as an infant, and continue doing so until we die, but a mistake during ENT surgery can alter a patient’s voice, or even cause it to fail entirely. For more information about vocal cord damage click here.

Delayed Treatment
As with other areas of surgery, not only is the nature and effectiveness of surgery crucial, its timing can in some cases make the difference between life and death. While a delay in treatment to reduce snoring might cause some additional suffering for a patient’s spouse or partner, it is less concerning than a delay in treating cancer that can then spread to other parts of the body. For more information about the effects of delayed ENT treatment click here.