You know your body. You know when something isn’t right. And when you go to a doctor whether a GP, a specialist or an emergency team you expect to be listened to, taken seriously and given a clear plan for next steps.
But too often, that’s not what happens.
You know your body. You know when something isn’t right. And when you go to a doctor whether a GP, a specialist or an emergency team you expect to be listened to, taken seriously and given a clear plan for next steps.
But too often, that’s not what happens.
Across Clare and the wider region, we’ve worked with people whose symptoms were dismissed, misread or misdiagnosed entirely. In many cases, the correct diagnosis only came after months of worsening illness, unnecessary tests, or repeated visits to different services. By the time someone finally acted, the condition had progressed sometimes to the point where treatment options were limited or the damage was permanent.
Misdiagnosis is not always dramatic. It might be a persistent infection labelled as a virus, a tumour mistaken for a minor issue, or serious pain waved off without proper scans. And in too many cases, people are left to wait. They wait for referrals. They wait for test results. They wait to be taken seriously.
At Crimmins Howard, we believe no one should suffer because of delay, oversight or inaction. We help clients find out what went wrong, why it was missed, and what can be done now. We speak plainly, act quickly, and fight to get you the answers you’ve been denied.
If your condition was misdiagnosed or your treatment delayed, and it led to serious harm, contact Crimmins Howard today. We will help you take the next step, with honesty and focus.
Misdiagnosis happens when a medical professional gives the wrong explanation for your symptoms. Delay occurs when they fail to recognise a serious condition or act quickly enough. These errors often lead to treatment being missed, postponed or given too late. When this causes harm, it can form the basis for a medical negligence claim. At Crimmins Howard, we help patients uncover how these failures happened and what can be done about them.
A misdiagnosis occurs when a doctor labels your symptoms incorrectly, leading to the wrong treatment or no treatment at all. We have seen cancers mistaken for minor infections, strokes misread as migraines, and autoimmune conditions dismissed as stress. Misdiagnosis can have a lasting impact on your health, especially when early intervention is crucial. If you were treated for one condition but actually had another, and that delay caused harm, you may have grounds to claim.
Delayed diagnosis happens when a correct diagnosis is eventually made, but only after multiple appointments or critical time has passed. It may involve a failure to refer, follow up or escalate care when new symptoms arise. We have acted in cases where delay allowed conditions like meningitis, cardiac problems or internal bleeding to worsen. If earlier action could have changed your outcome, that delay may be legally significant and compensable.
Doctors are responsible for reviewing and acting on test results in a timely way. When serious findings go unacknowledged or are never followed up on, patients are left in the dark. We have seen cases where scans showed abnormalities, but no action was taken until it was too late. These failures are not clerical errors. They are clinical mistakes that can have life altering consequences.
Broken bones are often clear on X-rays, yet fractures are still missed in busy emergency departments. This can lead to permanent damage, unnecessary pain and delayed recovery. We have represented clients who were told their limbs were only sprained, only to later find out they had untreated fractures requiring surgery. These mistakes are avoidable and often arise from rushed assessments or poor record keeping.
This is one of the most serious diagnostic failures we encounter. Symptoms like sudden severe headache, vomiting or collapse should be red flags. When GPs or A&E doctors miss the signs and send patients home, the outcome can be catastrophic. Subarachnoid haemorrhages require urgent imaging and immediate treatment. Delay can result in stroke, brain damage or death. We have acted in cases where lives could have been saved with faster action.
Sepsis moves quickly and does not always present with textbook symptoms. It is often mistaken for flu or general malaise, especially in children and older adults. We have seen cases where patients were told to rest at home when they urgently needed hospital care. Delays in recognising sepsis allow it to spread, increasing the risk of organ failure or death. These are preventable cases that demand accountability.
This rare but devastating infection needs immediate recognition and emergency surgery. When doctors fail to pick it up early, the bacteria can destroy tissue within hours. We have helped clients whose pain was downplayed or misdiagnosed, allowing the infection to progress to the point of amputation or death. Necrotising fasciitis requires fast escalation and aggressive treatment. Failure to act in time can be fatal.
Not every delay or incorrect diagnosis amounts to medical negligence. To bring a successful claim, we must show that the care you received fell below the standard expected of a competent medical professional, and that this failure directly caused you harm.
The legal test is based on two things: breach of duty and causation.
A breach of duty means that the doctor or healthcare provider did not act in a way that a reasonable professional in their position would have. This might involve failing to order tests, misinterpreting results, not escalating urgent symptoms or simply not following up when they should have. It also includes dismissing concerns without proper investigation.
Causation means proving that this failure led to a worse outcome. This can be difficult in some cases. If a diagnosis was always going to be serious, the question becomes whether earlier action would have improved the result. For example, if a cancer diagnosis was delayed by six months, we would need to show that those six months made a real difference to treatment options or survival.
We review full timelines of care. This includes appointment notes, scan and lab results, referral records and discharge letters. We look for gaps, missed opportunities and decisions that did not align with best practice. We also instruct medical experts to review your file and give an independent opinion.
You may have a case if:
At Crimmins Howard, we investigate these failures in detail and explain your legal position in plain English. If your care fell short and caused harm, we’ll help you take action.
Every misdiagnosis or delay claim must start with a clear point of failure. We trace your records to find the first missed symptom, the ignored referral, or the abnormal result that was never followed up. This forms the anchor of your case and allows us to build everything else around it.
These claims rarely involve one bad decision. They involve multiple missed chances over weeks or months. We map your full care journey across GPs, A&E departments, specialists and testing labs to reveal exactly how early action could have changed the outcome.
It’s not enough to show that something was missed we must prove it mattered. We instruct independent consultants to explain, in plain language, how earlier diagnosis or intervention would have improved your chances, reduced the damage, or avoided escalation. This is where most claims are won or lost.
Many of these cases involve more than one provider. A GP may have delayed action, a radiologist may have missed something, or a hospital may have failed to escalate. We gather the full picture and hold each responsible party to account.
We calculate claims in a way that reflects the real physical, but financial, and emotional harm. That includes pain and suffering, treatment costs, lost income, ongoing care and psychological distress. We do not push quick settlements that undervalue your loss.
Some misdiagnosis claims are turned away by firms that do not look closely enough. We review every detail, challenge assumptions, and take on claims that show clear patterns of failure even when others have walked away from them.
You will speak directly with the solicitor handling your case. We explain everything in plain English and update you as the case develops. You will always know what we are doing, why we are doing it, and what to expect next.
The key is whether another doctor, in the same position, would reasonably have acted differently. We look at the full timeline and ask independent medical experts to review the case. If they agree that the standard of care was not met, and it caused harm, you may have grounds for a claim.
Yes. A late diagnosis can still be actionable if the delay caused your condition to worsen. If you lost out on early treatment, had to undergo more aggressive therapy or suffered complications that could have been avoided, you may be entitled to compensation.
Protocols are not foolproof. If staff relied on a checklist or missed symptoms because they didn’t fit a typical pattern, that can still be negligent. Courts assess what a competent practitioner should have done based on the full clinical picture not just internal guidelines.
Yes. If a loved one passed away due to a delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis, you may be able to bring a wrongful death claim. These cases are usually brought by close family and can cover emotional loss, financial impact and funeral costs.
In most cases, you have two years from the date you became aware of the error. For children, the clock does not start until their 18th birthday. Early advice is critical. Time limits are strict and can cut off valid claims if missed.
You don’t need everything upfront. We will request your full medical records, including GP notes, hospital files, referrals and test results. We’ll also take a detailed history from you and, where appropriate, from family members.
Not necessarily. Many misdiagnosis claims settle out of court once expert evidence is presented. If your case does go to court, we’ll prepare every step and stand with you throughout. Most clients never need to take the witness stand.
Compensation reflects your pain and suffering, any medical expenses, loss of earnings and the cost of ongoing care. It may also cover out of pocket expenses and psychological harm. Each case is valued individually, based on the full extent of your losses.
Yes. We handle claims against HSE hospitals, private consultants and GPs. The standard of care expected is the same regardless of where you were treated. If that standard was not met, and harm followed, we can take action.
If your health was harmed because of a misdiagnosis or delay in care, we are ready to help. Crimmins Howard will review your situation, explain your legal options and support you at every stage. Contact us today for clear, confidential advice that puts your needs first.
