70% increase in new medical negligence cases going to Irish courts

18th, July 2008

The Irish Courts Service has found a 70 percent increase in the number of new clinical negligence cases.

According to the Irish Courts Services’ annual report, in 2007 566 new medical negligence cases were initiated, an increase of 70 percent on the 2006 figure of 334.

The volume of cases in general increased in Ireland last year which resulted in many extra court sittings and an increased demand on facilities and people. Personal injury actions rose by 49 percent from 5,389 in 2006 to 8,045 in 2007. But the most dramatic increase was in relation to medical negligence cases.

Speaking to Legal & Medical, a spokesperson for The Courts Service said: “There haven’t been any legal or administrative changes that can account for this rise in medical negligence cases.

“We checked this with the High Court after the figures emerged but no statutes have been reorganised or any other legal changes. Maybe people just hate their doctors or something.”

Speaking to Legal & Medical, a spokesperson for Patient Focus that support patients in Ireland who have been harmed by medical negligence, said: “We haven’t noticed a sudden increase in people approaching us, this is steady all the time. But litigation can be a long process it can take three to four years for a case to actually go to court.

“We have noticed quite a few MRSA and Clostridium victims/families coming to us, many of these are serious cases. A lot of these cases have been going through coroners and have progressed to court.

“The increase is probably because there is a lot more media attention on medical negligence and it is far easier for people to access specialist medical negligence legal advice, than say 10 years ago. There are some great medical negligence lawyers out there now.”

70% increase in new medical negligence cases going to Irish courts

The Irish Courts Service has found a 70 percent increase in the number of new clinical negligence cases.

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