General Practitioner: GP Negligence

Legal Helpline: ☎ 1800 529 835

If you are concerned about the standard of care you have received and whether your general practitioner has been negligent, we can arrange for a medical negligence lawyer to review your case. Simply call our free helpline or complete the contact form and our legal team will provide advice on your right to GP negligence compensation.

General Practitioners (GPs) deal with the care and management of patients in the community. The General Practitioner will have a basic medical degree such as MB BS.

They are involved in the initial diagnosis and treatment of most medical conditions. They undertake the initial investigations and refer on those patients who need Specialist attention.

Proper diagnosis of a medical condition or ailment is the crucial first step in finding a remedy. If left untreated, most medical conditions become worse. A delay in treatment can jeopardize a patient's chance of survival or lead to the patient's demise.

GP Compensation Claims

Some examples of GP negligence claims:

• Delay in diagnosis of serious conditions eg cancer, tumour, heart conditions.
• Delay in referral to a Specialist.
• Inadequate monitoring of chronic illnesses.
• Inadequate early investigation of symptoms that later develop into a serious conditions such as cancer.
• Failure to diagnose conditions eg meningitis, deep vein thrombosis.
• Negligent minor surgery in general practice.
• Incorrect prescription of medication.

Not every death, error or injury which occurs in conjunction with medical care is the result of medical negligence. Most GPs are competent, dedicated and committed professionals.

Duty of Care of GPs

The law imposes on a medical practitioner a duty to use reasonable care and skill in the provision of medical advice and treatment. The standard of reasonable care and skill required is that of the ordinary skilled person exercising and professing to have that special skill: Rogers v Whitaker (1992) 175 CLR 479 at 483.

General practitioners have a duty to use reasonable care when giving medical advice, diagnosis and treatment. If your general practitioner has breached their duty of care resulting in you suffering injury, disability, loss, you may be entitled to compensation for medical negligence.

We are firmly committed to helping you find out if you or a loved one has suffered injuries or death as a result of negligence. If a general practitioner's  negligence, or other wrongdoing causes injury or illness to a patient, the aggrieved party may be eligible to file a legal claim to seek compensation for their losses and suffering.

If you or a loved one has suffered injury and loss at the hands of a medical professional such as a GP, or hospital, seeking legal advice is the best way to protect and maximise your legal interests.

Due to statutes of limitations (time limits), it is important that you seek legal advice as soon as possible. Contact our legal team for obligation-free advice.

GP Doctor Negligence Case Law

Dobler v Halverson (2007) 70 NSWLR 151; [2007] NSWCA 335

The defendant GP failed to refer the plaintiff for an electrocardiogram (ECG) or to a cardiologist at an appropriate time. The plaintiff suffered cardiac arrest and hypoxic brain damage.

Khan v Rathjen [2016] NSWDC 139

The plaintiff suffered lacerations to his hand during an attack, resulting in severing of tendons in his middle finger. He saw his GP who failed to properly assess and diagnose his injury and to refer him to an emergency department or hand surgeon. As a result the plaintiff suffered loss of function and chronic pain syndrome.