My daughter, what to do?

Melion

Basically my daughter has been diagnosed with Hip Dysplasia, thats all well and good as kids all over the world are diagnosed with this every day. My problem is, most kids are diagnosed before they reach 6 months. Caoimhe wasnt diagnosed until 19 months after having 8 check-ups and we were told every time that she was fine and there was nothing to worry about.

This has set her development back so far already and she has only been in the cast for 6 weeks, she was able to walk before this, she will have to learn that all over again. It has cost us extra money to buy new car-seats, buggies and other things she needs, its costing us extra every week as she needs more nappies because she has to wear 2 at a time.

Im confused as to what to do as i understand that these things can happen but i just find it ridiculous that we were brushed off so many times by being told she was ok. A lot of people have told us to take this further, I am wondering if there is even a point in contacting a solicitor?

Any opinions?

DM addict

It sounds like it might be worth contacting the FLAC to see if there's a case.

amdublin

You should talk to a solicitor. Or maybe another doctor or your GP to get an opinion?


As a side note I believe that late diagnoses can occur. So eh yeah, best talk to an expert for an opinion.

Ps. No legal or medical advice is allowed to be given on this site.

blueythebear

amdublin wrote: »

You should probably talk to a solicitor. Or maybe your GP to get an opinion?


As a side note I believe that late diagnoses can occur. So eh yeah, best talk to an expert for an opinion.

You would need a report from an orthopaedic specialist. You are probably going to have to front up money for such reports as without a report to say that their has definitively been negligence in the late diagnosis, you will have a difficult case.

This would be a very difficult case as the condition can be difficult to diagnose. Is there any indication that there could have been negligence in the delivery of the child ?

First step I would suggest is to get all of the hospital records and contact a solicitor. A first consultation is often free and if not, well €50 is a sound investment to see if a case is worth pursuing. Even a few hundred for counsel's opinion would not be a bad idea if suggested by the solicitor. Make sure you get a firm that deal with medical negligence though.

NoQuarter

You need to speak to a solicitor with anything to do with medical negligence.

The courts in Ireland are slow to hold a doctor negligent as its not a good idea to encourage defensive medicine. In order to be held as negligent the doctor in question must have deviated from a general practice model doctors go by. If any one respectable body of opinion would have used the same tests as your doctor did then he will not be negligent.

This is not legal advice though as this information can be found in the professional negligence chapter of any Tort book. Worth reading if I were you but a solicitor is imperative.