Perforated Bowel Compensation | Bowel Perforation Negligence Claims (2025)

If you have experienced negligent medical treatment which has resulted in a perforated or lacerated bowel, you may be entitled to pursue a compensation claim to recover damages for your suffering, financial losses, and impact on your overall quality of life.

Here at Lanyon Bowdler we have successfully handled many claims of a similar nature, helping clients to receive financial reparations they deserve after enduring negligent medical treatment that resulted in bowel perforation.

A perforated bowel, also known as a gastrointestinal perforation, is a critical medical condition where a hole develops in the wall of the intestines, leading to the leakage of intestinal contents into the abdominal cavity.

This condition requires urgent medical attention to prevent life-threatening complications such as severe infection, sepsis, or multi-organ failure. However, when a perforated bowel occurs due to medical negligence, whether from a surgical error, delayed diagnosis, or inadequate post-operative care, the consequences can be devastating.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us for further advice and guidance in starting your claim.

What is Perforated Bowel Negligence?

Perforated bowel negligence occurs when a healthcare provider fails to meet the expected standard of care, resulting in a perforation of the bowel or worsening its consequences. This can happen through various forms of medical error, such as surgical mistakes where a surgeon accidentally cuts or punctures the bowel during an operation, delays in diagnosing a perforated bowel when a patient presents with symptoms, or inadequate postoperative care where signs of a developing perforation are missed.

Negligence may also involve misdiagnosis, where symptoms of a perforated bowel are mistaken for a less serious condition, leading to delays in treatment. When a perforated bowel occurs due to such negligence, the patient may suffer severe complications, such as infection, sepsis, or organ failure, and could be entitled to pursue a compensation claim for the harm experienced. This claim may cover damages for pain and suffering, medical costs, lost wages, and other related losses.

Our Bowel Perforation Compensation Expertise

Choosing Lanyon Bowdler to handle your perforated bowel compensation claim ensures that you receive expert legal support from a team of highly experienced medical negligence solicitors.

The Legal 500 & Chambers UK Recommendations

Lanyon Bowdler’s medical negligence team is recognised in Tier 1 for the West Midlands in the 2025 edition of the Legal 500, which states, ‘The ‘efficient and pragmatic’ team at Lanyon Bowdler adopts a ’truly personal approach’ when dealing with cases involving birth, brain and fatal claims.’

A testimonial reads:

‘Great team for clin neg work, certainly the stand out team in Shropshire and the surrounding area. Well resourced, offering high quality advice and excellent client care’.

Chambers UK2025 rank the department in Band 1 and state ‘an impressive practice group with a growing presence across the West Midlands. The team offers specialist advice across the full gamut of clinical negligence mandates, with particular experience in cases of surgical error, delayed diagnosis and failure to supervise those at risk of suicide. The firm is additionally skilled in cases relating to post-surgical negligence, brain injury and fatal claims.’

How We Can Help

With a strong track record in successfully handling complex medical negligence cases, Lanyon Bowdler offers a compassionate and client-focused approach, understanding the severe impact a perforated bowel injury can have on your health, wellbeing, and financial situation. Our solicitors are highly skilled in navigating the complexities of medical negligence law, working diligently to gather critical evidence, consult with medical experts, and build a robust case on your behalf.

We are also able to provide a free initial consultation to discuss the specifics of your case, as well as offering “No Win, No Fee” arrangements, meaning you can pursue justice without financial risk. Our medical negligence team is committed to securing the maximum possible compensation for your suffering, medical expenses, and any loss of income, while providing clear communication and support throughout the entire process. By choosing Lanyon Bowdler, you benefit from a trusted legal partner who will fight tirelessly to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve for the harm you have endured.

Your Bowel Perforation Claim questions answered

What is a bowel perforation?

A bowel perforation or laceration is a serious medical condition where there is a tear, hole, or cut in the wall of the intestines, which can occur in any part of the gastrointestinal tract, including the small intestine, large intestine, stomach, or oesophagus. This breach in the integrity of the bowel wall allows the contents of the intestines, including partially digested food, bacteria, and digestive fluids, to leak into the normally sterile abdominal cavity. This leakage can lead to severe and potentially life-threatening complications, such as infection, inflammation, and widespread sepsis.

What is the difference between a perforation and a laceration?

Bowel perforation refers to a hole or puncture in the wall of the intestines. This can happen due to various reasons, including medical conditions such as diverticulitis or Crohn’s disease, trauma, or medical procedures like surgery or colonoscopy. Bowel laceration refers to a cut or tear in the bowel wall, often caused by trauma or surgical instruments during medical procedures. Lacerations can range from minor to severe, depending on the depth and extent of the tear.

What are the causes of bowel perforations/lacerations?

Bowel perforations or lacerations can occur due to several factors, including:

Medical conditions such as Crohn’s disease, diverticulitis, peptic ulcers, or bowel cancer can weaken the intestinal wall, making it more prone to perforation.
Blunt trauma or penetrating injuries to the abdomen, such as those from a car accident, sports injury, or stabbing, can cause a laceration or perforation of the bowel.
Surgical errors made during abdominal or pelvic surgeries, such as appendectomies, bowel resections, or hysterectomies, can inadvertently damage the bowel.
Medical procedures like colonoscopies or endoscopies can occasionally cause a perforation if the instrument is misused or the bowel is already weakened.
Ingestion of sharp objects or accidental swallowing of foreign materials can lead to a perforation if they damage the bowel lining.

What are the symptoms of a bowel perforation?

The symptoms of a bowel perforation or laceration can vary widely depending on the severity and location of the injury, but they often present as a combination of acute and distressing signs. One of the most common symptoms is severe abdominal pain, which may intensify with movement or deep breaths, often described as sharp, stabbing, or persistent. This pain is typically accompanied by nausea and vomiting, reflecting the body’s response to the sudden breach in the bowel wall. Fever and chills may develop as the body attempts to fight off infection caused by bacteria leaking into the abdominal cavity. Additionally, a rapid heartbeat can occur as the body reacts to the stress and potential blood loss associated with the injury. Swelling and bloating of the abdomen are also common, resulting from the build-up of gas or fluids in the abdominal cavity due to the perforation. In more severe cases, signs of sepsis may emerge, including confusion, low blood pressure, and difficulty breathing.

What are the consequences of a bowel perforation?

A perforated bowel can have serious and life-threatening consequences due to the leakage of bowel contents into the sterile abdominal cavity, causing a severe inflammatory response. The most immediate complication is peritonitis, an infection of the abdominal lining that can quickly spread and lead to sepsis. Other complications include abscesses, fistulas, and multi-organ failure affecting the kidneys, liver, and lungs. Due to these risks, a perforated bowel is considered a medical emergency requiring urgent diagnosis and treatment, with the patient’s outcome largely depending on the speed and effectiveness of the medical response.

What is the treatment and prognosis for a perforated bowel?

A bowel perforation or laceration is a medical emergency which typically requires immediate intervention to repair the damage and prevent further complications. Treatment may involve:

Emergency surgery to repair the perforation or laceration and clean the abdominal cavity of any leaked contents.
Antibiotics to combat or prevent infection caused by bacteria from the bowel entering the abdominal cavity.
Supportive care including intravenous fluids, pain management, and, in severe cases, intensive care support.

The prognosis depends on several factors, such as the patient’s overall health, the size and location of the perforation or laceration, and how quickly treatment is provided. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment are crucial to reducing the risk of severe complications, such as sepsis or multi-organ failure.

Am I eligible to make a claim for perforated bowel negligence?

You may be eligible to make a claim for perforated bowel negligence if you have suffered a perforation that was caused or worsened by a medical professional’s failure to meet the expected standard of care. To establish eligibility, you must demonstrate that the medical professional owed you a duty of care, which is typically present in any medical setting, and that there was a breach of this duty through negligence, such as a surgical mistake, delayed diagnosis, or inadequate treatment.

Additionally, there must be a direct link between this breach and the harm you suffered, showing that the negligence directly caused or contributed to your injury or its complications. You also need to prove that you have experienced significant harm, such as physical pain, emotional distress, additional medical expenses, or loss of income.

Most claims must be filed within three years from the date of the injury or when you became aware that it was due to negligence, though exceptions can apply in certain cases. Consulting a medical negligence solicitor can help you assess your eligibility and navigate the process of making a claim, so please don’t hesitate to contact the team here at Lanyon Bowdler.

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In This Section

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Contact our Perforated Bowel Compensation Solicitors

If you have suffered from bowel perforation during a surgery, and believe this has happened because of the negligence of medical staff, contact our specialist Bowel Perforation Compensation Solicitors.

Our team of Surgical Negligence Solicitors has decades of experience supporting individuals through the legal process, and helping them achieve positive results and the compensation they deserve for their injuries.

Lanyon Bowdler is renowned across the country as a specialist firm of Medical Negligence Solicitors thanks to our commitment to tailored legal advice and excellent client care standards. The Bowel Perforation Compensation specialists in our offices inShrewsbury,Bromyard,Conwy,Hereford,Ludlow,Oswestry, andTelford are always available to assess your case and talk through your options, with no obligations.

We help people in Shropshire, Herefordshire, Mid and North Wales. Lanyon Bowdler is a leading team of specialists in Bowel Perforation Claims in Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Worcester, and across England and Wales.

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