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Boyes Turner’s clinical negligence team have recovered substantial compensation and settlements for clients with permanent disability caused by late diagnosed or untreated TB.

Our friendly, experienced lawyers understand the impact of this life-threatening disease on both the sufferer and their family.

We are experienced in helping clients who have suffered devastating injury from negligent TB treatment rebuild their lives through their entitlement to compensation.

Where signs and symptoms of tuberculosis were ignored or treatment negligently delayed, we can help our clients claim the compensation they need to ease their financial hardship and meet the costs of their disability. Money cannot buy a return to full health, but our clients welcome the help that compensation can provide in meeting the costs of adapted accommodation, private medical treatment and therapies, and specialist equipment, care and household assistance, which in turn help  restore mobility and independence. Following severe disability from TB, many clients are no longer able to work. We can recover their loss of earnings as part of their claim, bringing financial security and peace of mind. 

Recent cases:

  • £2 million settlement for a client who was left with significant respiratory disability after a delay of almost four years in the diagnosis and treatment of her TB (tuberculosis). The defendant hospital admitted their negligent delay but argued that most of our client’s disability was caused by her pre-existing asthma. However, they later accepted our medical expert’s opinion that the disability was caused by damage to our client’s lung as a result of the delayed treatment for TB.

  • £125,000 settlement for the bereaved, dependent family of a woman who suffered a devastating neurological injury from delayed treatment of tuberculous (TB) meningitis. Her husband asked us to pursue a claim against the GP who failed to refer her to hospital, and the hospital which delayed treatment, after another firm of solicitors had recommended that he discontinue the claim.

What is tuberculosis (TB)?

Tuberculosis or TB is a serious and contagious, bacterial infection. TB usually affects the lungs but can also infect other parts of the body, including the brain, spine, abdomen, bones and nervous system.

The infection is spread by coughing, sneezing or spitting. It can be caught by someone else inhaling drops of the infected fluid from the air. Initially, the newly infected person’s immune system may be able to deal with the disease, without causing symptoms or infecting others. This is known as latent TB. It is thought that latent TB affects around a quarter of the world’s population.

After someone is infected, they have a 5-15% lifetime risk of becoming ill with TB. People with weakened immune systems have a greater risk of developing active TB. Anyone can get TB but the  risk is increased for people who:

  • smoke;
  • drink alcohol;
  • have HIV;
  • have diabetes;
  • live in poverty with malnutrition, poor housing and sanitation.
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What happens if tuberculosis is untreated?

Tuberculosis is a serious infection which requires timely treatment with antibiotics to avoid permanent injury and severe disability. Delays in treating pulmonary tuberculosis can result in incurable lung damage, restricting the affected person’s ability to breathe and causing a lifetime of coughing fits, breathlessness and chest infections.  Pulmonary tuberculosis is associated with a condition caused aspergillosis, a life-threatening and debilitating condition which may require removal of the affected person’s lung. 

Delayed or untreated tuberculosis infection can spread to the brain, causing confusion, loss of consciousness, coma, or permanent damage from tuberculosis meningitis. If left untreated, both pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis can cause death.

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What is tuberculosis medical negligence?

Tuberculosis negligence claims usually arise from delays in diagnosis and treatment of TB, resulting in permanent injury to the affected person. TB negligence claims against GPs may also arise from failure to refer the patient for specialist review or appropriate tests and investigations.

Symptoms of tuberculosis may initially be mild, increasing in severity between onset and eventual diagnosis. Individual symptoms may be mistaken for other conditions, such as a chest infection or viral infection, leading to further delay. 

We have helped clients with tuberculosis injury and disability after:

  • GP or hospital failure or delay in recognising the signs and symptoms of TB; 
  • GP or hospital failure or delay in ordering the correct tests and investigations for TB;
  • delayed diagnosis of TB;
  • GP failure or delay in referral of the patient to hospital or to a specialist to review;
  • misdiagnosis of TB signs and symptoms as another condition;
  • delay or failing to treat the patient with appropriate antibiotics or corticosteroids;
  • failing to test and treat the infected person’s close family members for latent TB;
  • failure to screen for TB infection (e.g. on immigration).
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What tuberculosis negligence injuries lead to a compensation claim?

Our specialist medical negligence lawyers have helped clients recover compensation after TB negligence led to:

  • death;
  • brain damage from TB meningitis;
  • hearing loss;
  • lung damage and respiratory disability;
  • Aspergillosis/loss of lung;
  • bronchiectasis;
  • coughing fits;
  • reduced immunity to chest and other infections;
  • weakness and reduced stamina;
  • avoidable injury to children/family members.
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What compensation can I claim for disability caused by tuberculosis negligence?

We have helped clients who have been permanently disabled as a result of late diagnosed or untreated TB recover compensation for:

  • their pain, suffering and physical and psychological injury;
  • loss of earnings;
  • care and domestic assistance;
  • adapted accommodation;
  • specialist equipment;
  • costs of private surgery and medical treatment;
  • therapies;
  • psychological counselling;
  • out of pocket expenses arising from their avoidable injury.
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Meet your team

Susan Brown photo

Susan Brown

Partner

Julie Marsh headshot

Julie Marsh

Partner

Richard Money-Kyrle headshot

Richard Money-Kyrle

Partner

Sita Soni headshot

Sita Soni

Senior Associate - solicitor

Vanessa Wand photo

Vanessa Wand

Senior associate - solicitor

Tara Byrne photo

Tara Byrne

Associate - Solicitor

Rachel Makore headshot

Rachel Makore

Associate - solicitor

Alpa Rana headshot

Alpa Rana

Associate - solicitor

Fran Rothwell

Fran Rothwell

Associate solicitor

Ben Ireland headshot

Ben Ireland

Solicitor

Alice Carley headshot

Alice Carley

Paralegal

Audrey Elmore headshot

Audrey Elmore

Medical records coordinator

Nicky Melville headshot

Nicky Melville

Professional support assistant

Susan Brown photo
Julie Marsh headshot
Richard Money-Kyrle headshot
Sita Soni headshot
Vanessa Wand photo
Tara Byrne photo
Rachel Makore headshot
Alpa Rana headshot
Fran Rothwell
Ben Ireland headshot
Alice Carley headshot
Audrey Elmore headshot
Nicky Melville headshot

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What are the symptoms and signs of tuberculosis?

How common is tuberculosis or TB?

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What causes tuberculosis?

Is there a cure for tuberculosis?

How much compensation can you get for medical negligence?

How to make a medical negligence claim?

How long do medical negligence claims take?

How to fund a medical negligence claim?

Will I need a medical examination if I make a medical negligence claim for compensation?

Can I make a claim on behalf of a child?

What can medical negligence compensation pay for?

What is HSSIB?

How can you prove medical negligence?

Is there a time limit for claiming medical negligence compensation?

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What is MNSI?

Tuberculosis cases

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Awards & Accreditations

Our teams have been nationally recognised over the past decade for their dedication and commitment to securing maximum compensation for our clients

             Brake | The Road Safety Charity

What our clients say

Our clients constantly recognize us as the most experienced, professional, efficient and supportive

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"Julie Marsh is a first rate litigator"

Julie Marsh is a first rate litigator who adds real value to all her cases. I have always been impressed not just by her expertise as a clinical negligence lawyer but by the way she treats every client as an individual and works on their case as if it is the most important thing in the world, which to many clients it really is.

King's Counsel

"You have given fantastic support and guidance"

Boyes Turner have a great asset in Julie Marsh, she has handled my case with such professionalism and has kept me informed at every stage over the 6 years. She has given me guidance, support and that personal touch where I could ring or email at any time and she would always answer and give me answers to any questions I had. Would recommend without hesitation. Thank you

Boyes Turner Client

"I have been impressed"

Tara Byrne kept me well informed at all stages of my claim. I have been impressed with the way my case was handled, and the time scale within which a settlement was reached.”

Boyes Turner Client

"Very Professional "

Boyes Turner helped me through one of the toughest times in my life. They were very professional whilst remaining friendly. At times the process was emotionally tough but they were very patient with me and went through everything with me until I understood it. I cannot recommend them enough. 

Boyes Turner Client

"We cannot thank Susan and her team at Boyes Turner enough"

Words cannot express how grateful we are to Susan and her team for the level of commitment and dedication shown to our family during a time which would be difficult for anyone. Susan demonstrates a calm professional manner which helped us to feel at ease. Her level of knowledge has proven to be the best in the field and we fully recommend her to anyone seeking to investigate birth injury claims. You can be confident that Susan and her team will scrutinise the medical notes thoroughly and will keep you well informed throughout the process. We are very pleased with the outcome of our child’s case and know that her work has resulted in justice being achieved. Our family will now be able to move forward in the knowledge that the finances are securely in place for our child to receive a suitable care package, purchase equipment and receive necessary lifelong therapy. We cannot thank Susan and her team at Boyes Turner enough.

Boyes Turner Client