This week marks Crohn’s & Colitis Awareness Week (1-7 December), a campaign dedicated to raising awareness of conditions that affect around 1 in 120 people across the UK. This year’s theme, “How it Feels”, highlights an important truth: Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are often invisible conditions, yet their impact on daily life can be profound and life-changing.
For those living with Crohn’s disease, receiving a timely and accurate diagnosis is crucial. When medical professionals fail to recognise the symptoms or delay diagnosis, the consequences can be serious and, in some cases, may amount to medical negligence.
Understanding Crohn’s disease
Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel condition that can affect any part of the digestive tract, from the mouth to the anus. The condition causes inflammation of the digestive system, leading to symptoms that can significantly impact quality of life, including:
- Persistent diarrhoea, sometimes with blood or mucus
- Severe abdominal pain and cramping
- Extreme fatigue and exhaustion
- Unintended weight loss
- Mouth ulcers
- Reduced appetite
While there is currently no cure for Crohn’s disease, early diagnosis and appropriate treatment can help manage symptoms, reduce inflammation, and prevent the condition from progressing to more serious complications.
Why timely diagnosis matters
When Crohn’s disease is diagnosed promptly, patients can access treatments that significantly improve their quality of life. Treatment options may include:
- Corticosteroids to reduce inflammation
- Immunosuppressant medications
- Biological therapies
- Dietary modifications
- In severe cases, surgery to remove inflamed sections of the intestine
However, when diagnosis is delayed or symptoms are misdiagnosed as other conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), food intolerance, or stress-related disorders, the disease can progress unchecked. This can lead to serious complications including bowel obstructions, fistulas, abscesses, malnutrition, and an increased need for emergency surgery.
When does misdiagnosis become medical negligence?
Not every delayed diagnosis amounts to medical negligence. However, you may have grounds for a claim if:
- Your GP or hospital doctor failed to recognise the warning signs of Crohn’s disease despite presenting with clear symptoms
- Appropriate investigations, such as blood tests, stool samples, colonoscopy, or imaging scans, were not ordered when they should have been
- Test results indicating Crohn’s disease were misinterpreted or ignored
- You were incorrectly diagnosed with another condition and given inappropriate treatment
- The delay in diagnosis led to your condition deteriorating, causing complications that could have been avoided
- You experienced unnecessary suffering, required more invasive treatment, or needed surgery that might have been prevented with earlier intervention
The key question in any clinical negligence claim is whether your healthcare provider fell below the standard of care expected of a reasonably competent medical professional in their position. If this breach of duty caused you to suffer harm that could have been avoided, you may be entitled to compensation.
The impact of Crohn’s misdiagnosis
The consequences of misdiagnosed or delayed diagnosis of Crohn’s disease extend far beyond physical symptoms. Patients may experience:
- Prolonged pain and suffering while waiting for correct diagnosis
- Progression of the disease to more severe stages
- Increased risk of complications requiring emergency surgery
- Permanent damage to the digestive system
- Loss of earnings due to extended illness and recovery time
- Psychological impact, including anxiety and depression
- Reduced quality of life and ability to engage in daily activities and social events
These impacts reflect the very real experiences highlighted during Crohn’s & Colitis Awareness Week – the invisible burden that affects work, relationships, and everyday moments that others take for granted.
Seeking legal advice
At Nelsons Solicitors, our medical negligence team understands the devastating impact that a misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis of Crohn’s disease can have on your life. We have extensive experience in handling clinical negligence claims and are committed to securing the compensation and answers you deserve.
We will:
- Carefully review your medical records and treatment history
- Instruct independent medical experts to assess whether your care fell below acceptable standards
- Gather evidence to support your claim
- Negotiate with the NHS or private healthcare providers on your behalf
- Pursue maximum compensation for your pain, suffering, financial losses, and future care needs
Most medical negligence claims are handled on a no win, no fee basis, meaning you can pursue your claim without financial risk.
If you believe you have experienced a misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis of Crohn’s disease that has caused your condition to worsen, we encourage you to get in touch with our specialist team. While no amount of compensation can undo the harm you have suffered, it can provide financial support for ongoing treatment, help you access the care you need, and hold healthcare providers accountable for substandard care.
During Crohn’s & Colitis Awareness Week and beyond, it’s important to remember that proper diagnosis and treatment can make a significant difference to those living with these conditions. When medical professionals fail in this duty, they must be held to account.
How we can help
Danielle Young is a Partner in our Medical Negligence team, which has been ranked in tier one by the independently researched publication, The Legal 500. She specialises in a wide spectrum of clinical negligence matters, including pregnancy and birth injury claims, brain injury claims, fatal claims, surgical error claims, and cauda equina injury claims. Danielle also provides advice in relation to inquests.
If you would like to discuss a potential Crohn’s disease misdiagnosis claim, please contact Danielle or another member of our team in Derby, Leicester, or Nottingham on 0800 024 1976 or via our online form. We’re here to listen, advise, and support you through every step of the claims process.