If you were injured in connection with healthcare or treatment – for example by being given the wrong medication, receiving an incorrect diagnosis, or experiencing a procedure that went wrong – it can be considered a healthcare injury. This applies to general healthcare as well as dental care. If you decide to report a healthcare injury, you could be entitled to compensation as long as you meet the requirements and follow the correct process.
What counts as a healthcare injury?
A healthcare injury is an injury that has occurred in connection with healthcare or treatment and which could’e been avoided if everything had been done correctly. It may involve:
- Incorrect medication or the wrong dosage
- An incorrect diagnosis that led to delayed treatment
- Complications during surgery
- Infections acquired during a hospital stay
- Physical or psychological injuries that could’ve been avoided
To qualify for compensation, the injury must’ve been avoidable according to medical expertise. It isn’t enough to simply be unhappy with your care, there has to be an actual error or deficiency.
How do I report a healthcare injury?
You report the injury directly to the insurance company that covers the healthcare provider. If your care was provided by a region or another public healthcare provider, you’ll generally need to contact Löf (the Swedish patient insurance). If you received care from a private provider, you’ll have to ask which patient insurance they use and report the injury to their insurance company.
In case you also want to submit complaints or comments about the care or how you were treated, you need to contact the Patient advisory committee (Patientnämnden) or the The Health and Social Care Inspectorate (IVO).
Cost and compensation
It’s completely free to report a healthcare injury and have your case reviewed. If your claim is approved, you could receive compensation for:
- Additional expenses, such as medication or assistive devices related to the injury
- Loss of income if you were unable to work
- Pain and suffering during recovery
- Scarring or other lasting harm
The insurance company will determine whether you’re entitled to compensation, and if so, how much. You’ll always receive a written decision.
Important things to keep in mind when reporting a healthcare injury
- Save all documentation. Medical records, receipts, and your own notes can be important.
- Write down what happened as soon as possible while details are still fresh.
- Ask for help if the process feels difficult. Healthcare staff, a family member, a lawyer, or the insurance company can assist you.
- Report in time. There are deadlines for how long after an injury you can file a claim. Typically it’s three years from when you became aware of the injury.
Do you need legal help?
We have several lawyers who can help you with this. Book an appointment if you have questions and need counseling, or email us to hire one of the lawyers. We recommend: Emma Arfors