Tuberculosis (TB) negligence compensation claims

Our medical negligence solicitors secure life-changing compensation settlements for patients who have suffered severe injury and disability from delayed diagnosis or negligent treatment of tuberculosis (TB).

Woman with Tuberculosis

Legal support when early signs were missed.

Tuberculosis or TB is a serious infection which can cause death or devastating injury if diagnosis and treatment are delayed.  Our clinical negligence solicitors understand the impact of this life-threatening disease on both the sufferer and their family. We are experienced in helping clients who have suffered permanent disability from negligent TB treatment rebuild their lives through their entitlement to compensation.

Where signs and symptoms of tuberculosis were ignored or treatment was negligently delayed, we help our clients claim the compensation that they need to ease their financial hardship and meet the costs of their disability. In many cases, compensation pays for adapted accommodation, private medical treatment and therapies, and specialist equipment, care and household assistance, which in turn help restore mobility and independence. We recover loss of earnings in claims for those who can no longer work after severe disability from TB, bringing peace of mind and financial security. 

  • Nationally recognised medical negligence specialists with decades of experience
  • Access to leading medical experts and rehabilitation professionals
  • Proven track record of securing life-changing compensation for families
  • Dedicated support from initial enquiry through to settlement
  • No upfront costs and claim through a no win no fee agreement

Starting your tuberculosis (TB) compensation claim

For more than 30 years, Boyes Turner’s medical negligence solicitors have guided injured patients through the claims process to secure the compensation and specialist support that they need to manage their disability and rebuild their lives.

You can contact us for free, confidential advice from a medical negligence solicitor. We will ask you to tell us briefly about your medical care, and advise you about your time limits and whether we can help you investigate your claim. Once our investigations confirm you have grounds for a claim, we will notify the defendant healthcare provider (usually represented by NHS Resolution) on your behalf and invite them to respond, giving them an opportunity to admit liability (responsibility for your injuries) before court proceedings are issued.

If liability is admitted, we will obtain a judgment from the court and apply for a substantial interim payment to meet your needs arising from your injury and disability. If NHS Resolution deny liability, we will advise you about the best way to proceed with your claim. This may involve issuing court proceedings or inviting NHS Resolution to enter into settlement negotiations or mediation. 

  • No win, no fee

    No hidden or upfront costs. Clear, straightforward advice. Nothing to pay unless your claim is successful.

  • Over 30 years’ experience

    We have helped thousands of clients claim compensation.

  • Fully regulated

    Authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

Tuberculosis claims FAQs

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

TB infection is spread by coughing, sneezing or spitting. It can be caught by inhaling micro droplets 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 or drink alcohol, or have HIV or diabetes, or live in poverty with malnutrition, poor housing and sanitation.

The symptoms suffered by someone with TB will depend on whether the infection affects the lungs (pulmonary TB) or another part of the body (extrapulmonary TB).

Common symptoms of pulmonary TB include:

  • weight loss and lack of appetite;
  • night sweats;
  • a high temperature (fever);
  • extreme tiredness or fatigue.
  • cough for more than 3 weeks and/or brings up (blood-stained) phlegm;
  • gradually worsening breathlessness.

Extrapulmonary TB is less common than pulmonary TB. Extrapulmonary TB infection affects areas of the body outside of the lungs, such as:

  • lymph nodes;
  • bones;
  • digestive system;
  • bladder;
  • reproductive system;
  • brain;
  • spine and nervous system.

Symptoms and signs of extrapulmonary TB may include:

  • persistently swollen glands;
  • abdominal pain;
  • pain or loss of movement in a joint;
  • confusion;
  • persistent headache;
  • seizures (fits).

The early symptoms of active TB may be mild, but early recognition and treatment are important. Any delays in diagnosis and treatment increase the risk of permanent injury and of spreading the disease to others.

Pulmonary TB is often diagnosed after a chest x-ray and a phlegm sample. If pulmonary TB is diagnosed early, it can usually be cured with a 6-month-long course of antibiotics. During treatment, the infected person does not need to be isolated from their family, but they may need to take certain precautions to avoid spreading the infection. 

Extrapulmonary TB may be diagnosed after more extensive tests, including CT, MRI or ultrasound scans, internal endoscopic examination, blood tests or biopsy.

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 TB is also associated with a life-threatening and debilitating condition called aspergillosis, 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.

TB medical negligence compensation claims usually arise from delays in diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis, resulting in permanent injury to the infected person. Symptoms of tuberculosis are often mild at first but increase in severity during the delay 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. GP negligence claims involving TB can also arise from failure to refer the patient for specialist review or appropriate tests and investigations.

We have helped clients in claims arising from TB injury and disability after:

  • delays or failure by a GP or hospital to recognise the signs and symptoms of TB; 
  • delays, failure or errors by a GP or hospital in ordering tests and investigations for TB;
  • delayed diagnosis of TB;
  • misdiagnosis of TB signs and symptoms as another condition;
  • delay or failure by a GP to refer the patient to hospital or for specialist review;
  • 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).

Our specialist medical negligence lawyers have helped injured patients and their bereaved families recover compensation after negligent TB treatment led to:

  • the patient’s death;
  • brain injury from TB meningitis;
  • hearing loss;
  • lung damage, bronchiectasis and respiratory disability;
  • Aspergillosis/loss of lung;
  • coughing fits;
  • reduced immunity to infection, such as chest infections;
  • weakness and reduced stamina;
  • avoidable TB injury to children/family members.

Each client’s compensation depends on their individual circumstances and the severity of their disability and its impact on their life.

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;
  • other expenses arising from their avoidable injury.

Where untreated tuberculosis results in fatal injury, the deceased’s family and dependants may be able to claim compensation for:

  • the deceased’s pain and suffering prior to their death;
  • funeral costs;
  • a statutory bereavement payment;
  • the loss of the deceased’s income and ‘services’, such as childcare, housework, DIY, driving and other tasks.

Making a tuberculosis claim

We understand how daunting it can feel to take the first step. Our specialist medical negligence solicitors are here to guide you through every stage.

Getting in touch

Call us or complete our online enquiry form for free, confidential advice from a specialist tuberculosis (TB) negligence solicitor. We will listen to your concerns, explain your options, and advise whether we can investigate if delays or failures in diagnosing or treating TB caused avoidable harm.

Supporting your claim

Our solicitors will review your medical records, instruct independent experts, and investigate whether your tuberculosis was recognised and treated appropriately. Where negligence is identified, we can build a strong claim and, where appropriate, seek an interim payment to help meet immediate care and rehabilitation needs.

Securing compensation

We provide compassionate support throughout the claims process, working to secure the maximum compensation as quickly as possible to help fund treatment, rehabilitation, care, loss of earnings, adapted accommodation where needed, and other essential support.

Contact us

If you would like advice regarding a serious injury or illness affecting you or a loved one, please complete the form and one of our experts will be in touch as soon as possible.

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Mother in hospital

Client story

£2 million settlement

A four year delayed TB diagnosis leaves mother with a severe respiratory disability.

Read the story

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Why choose Boyes Turner?

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Our clients receive the highest standards of advice and representation and are always treated with compassion, outstanding care and understanding of the physical, emotional, psychological and financial impact that life-changing injury can have upon their lives.

  • We are nationally acclaimed for our claimant medical negligence expertise and the outstanding results we achieve for our clients.
  • We are ranked as leading clinical negligence experts in the Chambers Directory and Legal 500 guides to the legal profession and are accredited for our specialist expertise by the Law Society, AvMA, and the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL).
  • Our integrated multidisciplinary team offers our clients a full range of specialist help with compensation, rehabilitation, SEN, deputyship, personal injury trusts and community care.
  • We secure maximum compensation in claims for adults and children who have suffered catastrophic injury and severe disability, and provide practical support for their families.

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Leading medical negligence solicitors for over 30 years

Our solicitors’ expertise in medical negligence claims and their dedication to improving the lives of their injured clients has been recognised by the legal profession and disability charities for over 30 years.

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