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Mistakes made in surgery that damage the gallbladder, bile duct or surrounding areas can have severe, lifelong consequences. If this has happened to you or someone you love, you have the right to justice.
For over 30 years, we have secured thousands in compensation for those affected by gallbladder surgery claims, and found the answers our clients need to move on from these incidents. Trust our leading solicitors to achieve a successful result that secures your future – with no financial risk to you at any stage.
Do you have a gallbladder surgery claim?
Gallbladder surgery is a common procedure, and most end in a positive outcome. But mistakes can happen. From incisions to the gallbladder or bile duct, to injuries to blood vessels and nerves, surgical errors can devastate a person’s physical and emotional health.
If you or a loved one has suffered due to substandard treatment, you may be entitled to make a gallbladder surgery claim. With our expert legal advice in your corner, you can secure the compensation you need to recover from your experience, and move forward with the best quality of life possible.
The specialist gallbladder surgery claims solicitors for Essex & East Anglia
Our gallbladder surgery claims solicitors have obtained compensation, explanations and justice for claimants since 1993.
With unrivalled expertise in these cases, you can rest assured we will thoroughly investigate every piece of evidence to find out what happened and pursue the settlement you deserve. Working on a ‘no win, no fee’ basis and with 96% of our cases resolved out of court, we make claiming stress-free and seamless for you.
How much could your gallbladder surgery claim be worth?
A free initial consultation
Call us, request a callback or complete our online form and we’ll assess if you have a valid medical negligence claim.
Funding your claim
Discover the ways we can fund your claim without you paying a penny at any stage of the process.
Investigating evidence
We gather medical records, witness statements and more to learn what happened to you and prove your claim.
Instructing independent medical experts
We work with impartial, experienced medical experts to establish whether your injuries were due to substandard medical care.
Valuing your claim
We assess your health and financial losses to accurately estimate how much compensation your claim is worth.
Presenting your case
We contact the Defendants and the Courts on your behalf to set out your allegations and receive a response.
Negotiating a settlement
We work to achieve a fair settlement for you outside the courtroom – this is how 96% of our cases end.
Preparing for Trial
If we must proceed to Trial, we fully prepare you for what to expect so you receive the right result in court.
What you need to know about gallbladder surgery claims
What is gallbladder surgery?
The gallbladder stores bile, an acidic substance that can help the body break down fat during the digestive process. Depending on an individual’s diet and genetics, gallstones can form in the gallbladder, and block the flow of bile to the stomach.
As the gallbladder is not an essential organ, medical professionals often recommend gallbladder removal surgery (cholecystectomy) to prevent further pain and suffering from gallstones. There are several types of gallbladder surgery:
- A laparoscopic cholecystectomy, otherwise known as keyhole surgery, is a common procedure that uses small incisions in the abdomen to remove obstructions
- Open cholecystectomy involves a surgeon making one large cut to the abdomen to remove gallstones
- Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) can clear blockages in the gallbladder using an endoscope without the need to remove the organ.
Approximately 50,000 people undergo gallbladder surgery each year.
What negligence can occur during gallbladder surgery?
While gallbladder surgery complications are infrequent, there is still a chance that mistakes can happen during any operation and cause damage. There are numerous ways this can happen:
- A surgeon may mistake landmarks inside the body and damage nearby structures, especially during an endoscopic procedure
- A lapse in concentration at a crucial moment could result in a surgeon mistakenly cutting the wrong area, damaging nerves and blood vessels
- A medical professional may fail to double-check that they have performed an action correctly, or assume that it has been performed correctly
In addition to surgical errors, a negative outcome during gallbladder removal surgery could be due to negligence before, during or after surgery.
- Poor consenting may result in patients not being made aware of alternative procedures or the risks of a particular treatment
- Too little or too much general anaesthetic could result in a patient experiencing heightened awareness during an operation or unnecessary risks to health
- Improper post-surgery monitoring may fail to spot signs of a bile leak or bleeding before it leads to severe illness or injury
If these surgical mistakes resulted in avoidable pain and suffering for you or a loved one, you may have grounds to make a gallbladder compensation claim.
What damage can be caused during gallbladder surgery?
Complications during surgery can and do happen. If a medical professional fails to take proper action, possible consequences include:
- Injury to the cystic duct
- Bile leakages
- Injury to the bowel
- Blood clots
- Damage to blood vessels and nerves
- Infections
When gallbladder surgery goes wrong, a person’s life can be impacted in many ways. At a minimum, additional surgeries will often be required to correct problems caused by the first procedure, which could cause further scarring and require longer stays in the hospital.
Digestive issues may also emerge after an improper procedure. This may cause intermittent diarrhoea or constipation, making certain tasks like travelling or socialising unpleasant and embarrassing.
Beyond the physical consequences of substandard care, poor treatment can have devastating impacts on a patient’s emotional and psychological welfare. For instance, relying on friends, family or carers for assistance may impact self-esteem.
How do I prove I have a gallbladder surgery claim?
Not every mistake will be grounds for a gallbladder surgery negligence claim. It is only when the actions or inactions of a surgeon are deemed substandard that you may pursue compensation.
For instance, if you have undergone several surgeries before, the position of certain landmarks may have changed. In these circumstances, damage caused may be considered acceptable due to this irregular positioning.
However, if a surgeon operates on an individual who has never had gallbladder surgery before, their anatomy is likely to be as expected. As a result, it would be more difficult for a surgeon to justify any damage caused during treatment.
To determine whether negligence was to blame for your injuries, we investigate all available evidence and talk to trusted, impartial surgeons. By understanding what happened to you, we can work toward the best possible outcome and help you secure the justice and compensation you or your family deserve.
How can gallbladder surgery claim compensation help me?
The consequences of negligent acts during gallbladder surgery can be temporary or life-changing. As a result, the compensation awarded in these types of clinical negligence cases will vary.
To cover any changes to your home, work or social life, your settlement can be used to pay for aids around the home, adaptations to vehicles, and any medicine or treatments required after surgery. In addition, this financial support can recover any loss of earnings suffered as a result of extended stays in the hospital.
Our specialist gallbladder claim solicitors can help you claim the compensation you deserve and the answers you need.
How long do gallbladder surgery claims take to settle?
In our experience, we expect a gallbladder surgery claim to take between two and five years to reach a final settlement. However, the timeline of your case may vary depending on the stance taken by the Defendants and the availability of relevant medical experts.
If the Defendants admit liability before resolution, or there is a high probability that the Defendants will be found liable, you may qualify to receive interim payments.
Contact our expert gallbladder surgery claims solicitors
If you or a loved one suffered due to negligent gallbladder surgery and would like to speak to someone about your options, our team is here to listen and advise you on your next steps.
Lexcel accredited medical negligence claims solicitors
We are proud to be a Lexcel-accredited practice. The accreditation is a mark of quality and comes directly from the Law Society.
A recent assessment described us as a “Centre of Excellence” and we continue to operate to the highest standards across all main areas of our field. These include client care, case management, financial management, structure and strategy, people management, risk management, information management and file management.
Industry Recognised