Medical Tourism - Complications and Compensation
by: ArcticAl
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Date: Thu, 4 Nov 2010 Time: 5:25 PM
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Medical tourism has been on the increase in recent years. Unfortunately, there are risks with any type of medical procedure, but when you're travelling abroad for medical treatment, there can be added complications if something goes wrong. In this article, we take a look at medical tourism, the risks involved, and how a solicitor can help you if you are considering making a claim for medical tourism compensation.
Medical Tourism - What is it?
Due to long waiting lists for medical treatment in the U.K. and the high cost of private treatment, more and more people have been choosing to travel abroad for procedures in recent years, in order to access treatment more quickly than they could with the N.H.S. but for a cheaper price than they would pay if they had their treatment within a private hospital in the U.K. on a self-pay basis.
Many people travel abroad for cosmetic surgery, but people also travel in order to undergo other types of treatment, including orthopaedic surgery, dental procedures and infertility treatment. Medical tourism packages often include the surgery and aftercare, plus an extended stay in the country to which you are travelling so that you can recover before travelling home.
Medical Tourism - What Can Go Wrong?
Whenever you undergo a surgical procedure, there are risks involved. However, when you travel abroad for treatment, these risks can sometimes be increased. Whilst many hospitals and clinics overseas are of a very high standard, hospitals within the U.K. are closely regulated, and this is not necessarily the case in all countries. Therefore, standards of care may not be as high as they are in the U.K. and hygiene practices may not be as rigid. Some overseas clinics may not be regulated at all, and surgeons may not have been trained to the same level as those practicing within the U.K.
If something goes wrong with your surgery, it could mean that there are medical complications or you develop a post-operative infection. If this happens, you may find that you need to visit the local hospital's Accident and Emergency Department, be re-admitted into hospital, or even, in serious cases, need to be admitted into intensive care. Alternatively, you may not receive the level of aftercare that you need and have to seek further treatment upon your return to the U.K. If complications arise, you may find that the additional treatment needed is not covered by your medical tourism package, and that the treatment you require will cost you a considerable amount of money.
How Can a Solicitor Help You?
Before you travel overseas for medical treatment, you may want to contact a medical tourism solicitor specialising in such claims and ask him or her to check the details of your package or any insurance that you have, in order to ensure that you will be covered in the event of something going wrong.
If, however, you have travelled abroad for treatment and complications have arisen, you may want to consider making a claim for medical tourism compensation. If so, you should act as quickly as possible, as claims can be time-sensitive. Look for a firm of solicitors specialising in clinical negligence and medical tourism compensation, and make an appointment to see someone. Your solicitor will be able to discuss your experience with you, and assess whether or not you have a possible case for claiming medical tourism compensation.
If your solicitor believes that you have a case for claiming medical tourism compensation, he or she will be able to explain the process to you, discuss ways of funding your legal action and help you to prepare your case.
About the Author
Michelmores Solicitors is a leading legal firm, with offices in London, Exeter and Sidmouth. Michelmores provides legal services in a number of practice areas, including clinical negligence and medical tourism compensation. Their medical tourism team has litigated an increasing number of cases for British nationals in the English courts, where cosmetic surgery and other medical treatment was performed at overseas clinics under medical tourism initiatives. In doing so Michelmores' specialists rely, where they are present, on jurisdictional factors and circumstances connecting claims to the UK.
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