Call for Better Access to Legal Aid for Medical Negligence

by | May 30, 2013

Speakers at a major Justice for Health conference in Dublin have called on the government to provide better access to Legal Aid for Medical Negligence.

Delegates at the conference recently hosted at the Radisson Blu Royal Hotel by Action against Medical Accidents (AvMA) heard guest speakers including Sheila O´Connor from Patient Focus and Dublin City Coroner, Dr Brian Farrell, discuss whether it was now harder than ever for those affected by medical negligence in Ireland to seek justice and if the lack of accessible legal aid for medical negligence claims was in breach of the European Convention on Human Rights.

The conference was chaired by AvMA´s Chief Executive, Peter Walsh, who told the conference over 100,000 ‘adverse events’ were reported in the health system by the Health Service Executive (HSE) last year. Although not every ‘adverse event’ would necessarily result in an injury, only 635 court summons were issued in respect of medical negligence claims and it was the conference´s opinion that thousands of patients are unable to take legal action against a negligent medical practitioner or hospital because access to legal aid for medical negligence is limited.

Legal Aid for Medical Negligence

Access to legal aid for medical negligence compensation claims in Ireland is currently means tested and only available to those with a small disposable income. Even those simply enquiring to find out if they are qualified to make a medical negligence compensation claim are expected to contribute towards the costs of running the Legal Aid Board.

Footnote: If you have suffered a loss, an injury or the preventable deterioration of an existing condition which you believe may be due to an ‘adverse medical event’, many medical negligence solicitors in Ireland will offer free, confidential legal advice without any pressure on you to make a medical negligence compensation claim thereafter. 

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