My medical negligence happened a few years ago – how long do I have to claim?
Making a legal claim can be a daunting experience, especially when the claim involves a clinical organisation or medica...
Ageusia
Partial/total loss of taste
Amnesia
Partial/total loss of ability to remember.
Anaesthetist
Anaesthetists specialise in the relief of pain, most commonly in the context of surgery.
Aneurism
A balloon-like deformity in the wall of a blood vessel.
Anomia
Difficulty finding words.
Anosmia
Loss of smell.
Anoxia (hypoxia)
Lack of oxygen supply to the brain.
Anticonvulsant
Medication to reduce frequency of seizures.
Ataxia
Unsteadiness of movement.
Behaviour modification
Therapy that uses the principle of learning, aims to change behaviour using reward/consequence.
Brain Plasticity
The brain’s ability to take over functions of damaged cells.
Burr hole
A hole drilled in to the skull.
Cardiologist
Specialist doctor who diagnoses and treats conditions of the heart.
Clinical Neuropsychologists
Are concerned with changes that occur following damage to, or disease of, the nervous system.
Clinical Psychologists
Are primarily concerned with the assessment and treatment of emotional and psychiatric problems in adult mental health (including rehabilitation and psychological therapy).
Cognitive Abilities
Mental abilities such as thinking, remembering, concentrating.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
A form of psychological therapy based on learning theory principles.
Coma
State of unconsciousness.
Concussion
Unconsciousness after a blow to the head.
Consultant Psychiatrist
Doctor with specialist experience and qualifications in mental illness and emotional disorders.
Contusion
A bruise caused by a blow with a blunt object.
Craniotomy
Occurs when a hole is made in the skull in order that surgeons can access the brain.
Cranium
Bony skill (intracranial – inside the skull).
CT scan
A series of x-rays which build up a 3D image of the inside of the body.
Dementia
Impaired thinking, damaged intellectual functioning.
Dermatologist
Specialist who diagnoses and treats disorders of the skin.
Diffuse Axonal Injury (DAI)
Widespread tearing of nerve fibres across the entire brain.
Diplopia
Double vision.
Disinhibition
Difficulty controlling urges, impulsions to speak, act or emote.
Dysphagia
Difficulty swallowing.
Edema
Swelling of the brain.
EEG
Electrodes are attached to the scalp to measure the electrical activity, waves, in the brain.
Embolism
Blockage of an artery by a clot.
Encephalitis
Inflammation of the brain due to infection.
Endocrinologist
Specialist who treats disorders of the hormonal systems.
ENT
Surgery of the ear, nose and throat.
Epilepsy
Abnormal electrical activity in the brain.
Executive functions
Include planning, organising, problem solving.
Gastroenterology
Medical field specialising in the function and disorders of the stomach, intestines and related organs of the gastrointestinal tract.
Gastrostomy
An opening in the stomach for administration of foods and fluids.
General Practitioner (GP)
Local doctor, who will usually be the first person you see if you have a physical or emotional problem.
General Surgeon
A doctor who has training and expertise in performing a variety of operations.
Glasgow Coma Scale (GSC)
A scale for measuring level of consciousness.
Gynaecologist
Specialist in the diagnosis of and treatment of conditions relating to the female genital tract reproductive system.
Haematology
Medical speciality relating to the blood and blood forming tissues.
Haematoma
Bleeding on the brain that leads to the collection of ‘pools’ or ‘clots’.
Haemorrhage
Bleeding/blood loss.
HRCT Scan
Is high-resolution computerised tomography scanning that uses x-rays to produce detailed images of the inside of the body.
Hydrocephalus
Accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid within the brain.
Hypoxia
Reduced availability of oxygen to body tissues.
ICP (Intracranial Pressure) monitoring
Insertion of a bolt in to the skull which is connected to a gauge via a catheter, it then registers the amount of pressure within the skull
Infarct
An area of the brain where cells have died
Maxillofacial
Surgery to the face and jaw.
MRI scan
Strong magnetic fields and radio waves used to produce a detailed image of the body.
Multi-disciplinary team (MDT)
A team of health and social care staff.
Nasogastric Tube
Fine tube that is passed through the nose and down the throat into the stomach, used for feeding.
Neurology
This is the study of the brain, the nervous system and its diseases.
Neuropsychiatrist
A doctor who specialises in the relationship between neurological processes and psychiatric disorders.
Neuroradiologist
A specialist radiologist who uses imaging techniques, such as x-rays, to diagnose diseases/injuries of the nervous system
Neurorehabilitation
A complex medical process that aims to aid recovery from an injury to the nervous system.
Neurosurgery
Surgery of the brain and the nervous system, including spinal surgery.
Nystagmus
Jerking of the eyes following damage to the brain stem.
Occupational Therapist (OT)
Will work with an individual to develop their skills and confidence in everyday life.
Oedema
Swelling caused by excess fluid in tissues.
Oncologist
A doctor specialising in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
Ophthalmology
Surgery of the eye and the orbit.
Orthopaedics
Surgery of bones, joints and locomotion.
Otologist
Doctor who specialises in problems of the ear, nose and throat and has additional training in the medical and surgical management of dizziness, hearing loss and tumours of the ear.
Paediatrician
A doctor specialising in children’s medicine.
Paralysis
Loss of ability of muscles to contract.
Paraplegia
Loss of movement and sensation of the lower part of the body.
Persistent Vegetative State
Condition where the patient does not speak, follow commands or make any meaningful responses.
PET Scan
Positron Emission Topography, maps blood flow in brain.
Physiotherapy
The treatment of disease, injury or deformity by physical methods such as exercise, heat treatment or massage.
Plastic and reconstructive surgery
This includes sub-specialities of burns surgery, including critical care and cosmetic surgery.
Post-traumatic Amnesia (PTA)
Inability to remember events after a blow to the head.
Proprioception
Perception of the position and movement of the body, limbs and head.
Prosthetic
Is an artificial device that replaces a missing part of the body.
Prosthetist
An expert in prosthetics.
Psychiatrists
Medical practitioners who may use a full range of treatments, drugs and physical methods.
Psychologists
They are not medically qualified but have professional training. They have a first degree in psychology and have undertaken further professional training in a specific area of psychology.
Psychometric Tests
Tests which measure mental functioning.
Psychotherapy
Is the treatment of mental disorders and behavioural issues using verbal and non-verbal communication.
Respiratory Physician
A doctor that deals with the respiratory system, e.g. lungs, windpipe etc.
Retrograde Amnesia
Inability to remember events that happened for a period before a blow to the head.
Rheumatologist
A specialist in the treatment of disorders of the connective tissues, e.g. arthritis.
Quadriplegia (Tetraplegia)
Complete or semi-paralysis to all four limbs following injury to the neck.
Shunt
A device to remove excess fluid or divert blood.
Speech & Language Therapists
Assess and treat speech, language and communication problems, as well as those who have difficulty feeding, chewing and swallowing.
Spinal Surgeon
Doctor who specialises in conditions and surgery affecting the spine.
Tetraplegia (Quadriplegia)
Complete or semi-paralysis to all four limbs following injury to the neck.
Thrombosis
Clot in a blood vessel.
Tracheotomy
A small operation that involves opening the windpipe for a plastic tube to be inserted to facilitate breathing when the windpipe is blocked.
Urology
A urological surgeon deals with surgery of the kidney and drainage system, to include the ureter, the bladder and the urethra.
Ventilator
A machine that pumps oxygen-enriched air into the lungs when they are not working efficiently.
Vocational Rehabilitation
Provides training in a specific field with the aim of gaining employment.
Legal Terms
Civil Law
The area of law covering disputes you may have with a person or organisation.
Claimant
A person making a claim.
Client
Someone who uses services provided by a lawyer or another.
Compensation
Recompense for loss, injury or suffering.
Damages
An award, typically of money, paid to a person or organisation for loss or injury.
Defendant
A person or organisation against whom a claim is being brought.
Disbursement
Fees that are paid to organisation as required as part of legal services, e.g. court fee, medical fee.
Instructing
Authorising a lawyer to represent you, an instruction describes the type of work that you want them to carry out.
Intestate
Any person who dies without leaving a will is said have died intestate.
Lawyer
According to the SRA Code of Conduct 2011, a member of one of the following professions entitled to practise as such;
Legal Executive
A lawyer regulated by CILEX Professional Standards.
Legal Services
Services provided to clients, e.g. legal advice or representation at court.
Liable
When someone is legally responsible for something.
Liability
Something that a person is responsible for.
Litigation
The contest process before a court.
Out-of-court settlement
An agreement between the two sides to settle the case privately before the court makes its decision.
Solicitor
A lawyer who has been admitted as a solicitor by the SRA and whose name appears on the roll of solicitors.
Third party
A term used to describe someone other that the two sides in a particular situation.
Trainee solicitor
A person completing their training requirements in law firm before applying to become a solicitor.