Acupuncture Injury Claims Guide
By Lewis Cobain. Last Updated 8th August 2023. Welcome to our guide on acupuncture injury claims. Have you experienced an acupuncture injury that was not your fault but was caused by negligence on behalf of the practitioner or clinic that treated you? You may be entitled to make an acupuncture injury claim for your injuries. Whether you have suffered from a vascular injury caused by acupuncture, nerve damage from an acupuncture needle, bruising or a tissue damage injury from acupuncture, you could potentially claim thousands of pounds for your acupuncture injuries. If you have a legitimate case for claiming compensation for acupuncture injuries, the excellent personal injury solicitors at Legal Expert would love to work with you.
Trust our acupuncture claims lawyers to represent you during your claim. We are Legal Expert, a well respected firm of personal injury solicitors who can help you claim compensation for your injury from acupuncture. Our personal injury lawyers have plenty of experience winning compensation claims for clients who have suffered alternative and complementary therapy related injuries. What’s more, we offer all of our potential clients a free, no obligation legal consultation where we will give you free legal advice on how to make an acupuncture injury claim.
So, call us today about any potential acupuncture injury claims. We will establish if your acupuncture injuries entitle you to claim compensation for your injuries, and if you have grounds for compensation we will estimate how much your compensation claim could be worth and will provide you with the right acupuncture claims lawyer to handle your claim. Call Legal Expert today on 0800 073 8804 to enquire about claiming compensation for your acupuncture injuries.
Select A Section
- A Guide To Acupuncture Injury Claims
- What Is Acupuncture?
- Is Acupuncture Effective?
- What Injuries Can Acupuncture Cause?
- Acupuncture Gone Wrong – Side Effects of Acupuncture
- Are Acupuncture Practitioners Regulated?
- Further Research On Acupuncture
- What Can I Make An Acupuncture Injury Claim For?
- Examples Of Compensation For Acupuncture Injuries
- No Win No Fee Acupuncture Injury Claims
- Why Should You Make Your Claim With Us?
- Useful Links
A Guide To Acupuncture Injury Claims
In Britain 2.3 million acupuncture treatments are practiced each year. Whilst most acupuncture treatments are problem free, 10% of acupuncture patients experience side effects of acupuncture or a bad reaction to acupuncture. These can range from bruising, which will disappear overtime, to tissue damage which be permanent. Why do so many acupuncture treatments result in such the client becoming injured? Unfortunately in Britain the acupuncture industry is self regulating, which means that practitioners do not have to have any qualifications or a license to practice acupuncture privately, although in some areas acupuncture practitioners are supposed to register with their local authority.
In this guide we will explain what exactly acupuncture is and the different ways it can be practiced. We will look at how an acupuncture injury can occur, take you through the process of making an acupuncture injury claim and advise you on how much compensation you could claim.
If you have experienced an acupuncture injury that wasn’t your fault, whether it was vascular injury caused by acupuncture, tingling sensation after acupuncture, a burning sensation after acupuncture, nerve damage from an acupuncture needle, permanent tissue damage or another injury, you may be entitled to make an acupuncture injury claim for compensation. Remember, you can take advantage of Legal Expert’s free legal consultation we offer to all of our potential clients. If you have a legitimate claim, we will assess how much your claim could be worth and find the right personal injury solicitor to represent your acupuncture injury claims.
What Is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a form of complimentary medicine, which involves using needles to stimulate the sensory nerves in the muscles of the body and underneath the skin. In Britain, there are two types of acupuncture that are practiced. The first is medical acupuncture which is usually practiced by a qualified healthcare professional, usually a GP, physiotherapist or qualified acupuncturist, where the stimulation of the nerves results in the body producing endorphins, providing natural pain relief for the patient.
Acupuncture Injury Claims
Under Britain’s National Health Service (NHS), acupuncture is used to treat chronic pain related conditions, including back pain, neck pain, dental pain, migraines and chronic tension type headaches. The acupuncture is only prescribed after a condition has been diagnosed. At the present time, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) only recommends acupuncture for migraines and chronic tension type headaches. Medical acupuncture is sometimes offered on the NHS, but often an NHS doctor will refer the patient to a reputable acupuncturist practitioner, and the treatment will be paid for privately by the patient.
In Britain, traditional Chinese acupuncture/traditional Chinese medicine is also practiced. Traditional Chinese acupuncture is based around the belief system that a Chi, meaning “life force” flows around the human body to keep up the person’s health. According to this belief system, if the chi is blocked, the person can become ill, therefore the acupuncture needle removes the blockage, restoring the person’s health. The field of traditional Chinese acupuncture, British Acupuncture Council has a directory of practitioners that meet the approval and vetting standards of the Professional Standards Authority. Please note traditional Chinese acupuncture is not regulated by any approved medical body. There is no statutory regulation of acupuncturists in England. This is worth keeping in mind ahead of filing any acupuncture injury claims.
Is Acupuncture Effective?
As we have mentioned, acupuncture is sometimes recommended or subscribed by the NHS to help patients deal with chronic pain such as migraine and cluster headaches. Patients also seek acupuncture for ailments such as allergic reactions, infertility, anxiety and depression. The NHS points out that there is no scientific proof that acupuncture can help for these conditions. Instead of completely dismissing the validity of acupuncture, the NHS recommends that more information is needed to understand fully how acupuncture works and the effects it can have on the human body. The NHS also acknowledges that the side effects of acupuncture could result in adverse health risks.
What Injuries Can Acupuncture Cause?
Unfortunately there are some possible risks of injury from acupuncture. For example, a study from the National Patient Safety Agency found that between 2010 and 2012, there were 325 cases of injuries from acupuncture. These included bad reactions to acupuncture such as feeling dizzy and faint. There were also incidents associated with negligence such as needles being left in patients and patients being stabbed through the lung, causing a condition called pneumothorax where the lung collapses. This could definitely be a situation which results in the victim making acupuncture injury claims.
If the patient isn’t treated immediately by having the lung re-inflated they can die. The study also made the point that these injuries may be the tip of the iceberg as there may be many more people who suffer injuries but do not report them. Other possible injuries that can be caused by acupuncture include: vascular injury caused by acupuncture, numbness and tingling after acupuncture, a burning sensation after acupuncture, nerve damage from acupuncture needle or pins and needles after acupuncture.
Have you undergone acupuncture treatment which resulted in you becoming injured or ill? Whether you received acupuncture from a trained GP, physiotherapist or a traditional acupuncture practitioner, if the practitioner behaved negligently, resulting in you becoming injured or ill, you could be entitled to claim compensation for your pain and suffering. Call Legal Expert today to see if you are entitled to make an acupuncture claim.
Acupuncture Gone Wrong – Side Effects of Acupuncture
You may be wondering what could happen if you have a bad reaction to acupuncture. Although the NHS says side effects of acupuncture are rare, they still could affect you.
If acupuncture has gone wrong, according to the NHS you may experience side effects including:
- Feelings of sickness or dizziness
- Pain from when the skin is punctured by the needles
- Feeling drowsy
- The exacerbation of pre-existing conditions
- Bruising from the skin punctures
- Bleeding from where the needle has punctured the skin
The NHS recommends avoiding acupuncture if you have an allergy to metal. Additionally, if you are pregnant, you should make the acupuncturist aware before beginning your treatment.
If you have suffered from side effects of acupuncture, our advisors can offer you free legal advice about potentially making a claim with our personal injury solicitors.
Are Acupuncture Practitioners Regulated?
Unfortunately, in the UK anyone can set themselves up as an acupuncturist, as there is not a statutory body which regulates the practice of acupuncture. Whilst medical acupuncture is practiced by a qualified medical practitioner such as a GP or physiotherapist, traditional acupuncture is not subject to regulation. The lack of regulation for basic acupuncture could explain a significant number of subsequent acupuncture injury claims.
However in many areas acupuncturists have to register with a local authority. There are also regulatory bodies which promote health and safety and certain standards of practice within the acupuncture industry, including the British Medical Acupuncture Society, the Acupuncture Association of Chartered Physiotherapists, and the British Acupuncture Council. Acupuncturists have to abide by certain conditional standards to be part of these organisations.
Further Research On Acupuncture
As we have already stated, the NHS has stated that acupuncture is not fully understood and further medical research is recommended to gain more medical knowledge into how acupuncture works, where acupuncture is effective and ineffective and understand any safety concerns better.
One study that examined acupuncture injuries bought up some causes for concern. For example, researchers from a joint project between the National Patient Safety Agency and the Peninsula Medical School published a study in 2012 that looked at acupuncture injuries that had taken place between 2009 and 2011. The study found that of the 325 cases, 63 patients had experienced a temporary loss of consciousness, 39 had experienced vomiting and nausea, hot flushes and irregular unexpected pains, and unfortunately there were two patients that were formally diagnosed with pneumothorax where the needle punctures a lung.
This evidence suggests that there are some worrying risks associated with acupuncture, which can be heightened if the practitioner acts negligently. If you have experienced an acupuncture injury which was caused in part or in full by negligence on the part of the practitioner, you could be entitled to claim acupuncture negligence compensation. Call Legal Expert today to enquire about the possibility of making an acupuncture injury claim.
What Can I Make An Acupuncture Injury Claim For?
If you have experienced an acupuncture injury that was not your fault but was caused by negligence on the part of the practitioner or clinic where you were treated, you could be able to make an acupuncture injury claim for compensation. If your acupuncture injury claim for compensation is successful, your payout will be awarded in two parts. Firstly, you will be awarded general damages, this will be the largest part of your compensation settlement which will be to compensate you for your pain and suffering as a result of your injuries.
You can also make acupuncture injury claims for any psychological damages your injuries have left you with, for example if you are suffering PTSD or depression as a result of your injuries. You will also be awarded special damages. What is the purpose of special damages? Special damages are to compensate the victim of the accident for any out of pocket expenses they have endured, as a result of their injuries. They will also be compensated for any income lost.
Examples of special damages:
- Medical expenses: You can claim compensation for medical expenses associated with your injuries including medical treatment, counselling or psychological treatment, or medicines.
- Travel expenses: You can claim compensation for travel expenses associated with your injury from acupuncture, including alternative transport if you are temporarily unable to drive because of your injuries, taxis to and from hospital, hospital outpatient appointments or doctor’s appointments.
- Care expenses: If you have had to pay for at home care as a result of your injuries, you can claim these expenses as part of your special damages. You can also claim compensation for a friend or family member if they provided you with at home care as you were recovering from your injuries.
- Loss of income: If your acupuncture injuries forced you take time off work you can claim for loss of income. As well as your regular salary you can claim for benefits such as holiday pay, sick pay and missed bonus payments. You will also be able to claim for loss of future income if you miss payments into a pension fund.
If you have experienced unnecessary injuries from acupuncture including nerve damage from acupuncture, a tingling sensation after acupuncture, a burning sensation after acupuncture, a vascular injury caused by acupuncture or permanent nerve damage, Legal Expert would love to represent you in your claim for compensation. Talk to us today about making a personal injury claim for compensation.
Examples Of Compensation For Acupuncture Injuries
As previously discussed, if you make a successful claim for your injury from acupuncture, your compensation settlement could consist of general and special damages.
When legal professionals, such as solicitors, are valuing general damages, they may use the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) to help them alongside other documents, such as an independent medical assessment. The JCG features guideline compensation brackets for various types of injuries at different severities. For the table below, we have included some of the figures that are stated in the 16th edition of the JCG.
Please only refer to this table as a guide. The amount of compensation you could receive may be affected by the specific factors of your claim.
| Injury type and severity | Settlement | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Head injury – minor | £2,070 to £11,980 | Dependent on the severity of the head injury and whether there are any brain injuries with this. |
| Psychological injury – less severe | £1,440 to £5,500 | Settlement will take into account how long any mental disability will take to recover from. |
| Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder – Severe | £56,180 to £94,470 | This reflects permanent and serious injury. |
| Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder – Moderately Severe | £21,730 to £56,180 | Severe, but less serious than the category above. Recovery may be better. |
| Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder – Less Severe | £3,710 to £7,680 | Full recovery can be made within two years. |
| Lung Injury – Serious | £11,820 to £16,860 | Penetrating injury causing serious but small injury which can be recovered from. |
| Collapsed lung | £2,060 to £5,000 | Injury causing a collapsed lung which can be fully recovered from. |
To receive a free valuation of your potential claim, you can contact our friendly advisors. They may also be able to put you in contact with one of our solicitors if you have a strong case.
No Win No Fee Acupuncture Injury Claims
At Legal Expert, we understand that if you have suffered an acupuncture injury that was not your fault, you have probably had a difficult, upsetting time. The pain you have experienced as a results of your injuries may have caused you untold amounts of stress. What’s more, as a result of your injuries, you may have also suffered from a loss of income, which means that finances may be tighter. The less stressful, more affordable way to claim personal injury compensation for an acupuncture injury is to make a no win no fee compensation claim.
If you have experienced an accident or injury which was caused by negligent acupuncture treatment that resulted in you becoming ill or injured, and have legitimate grounds for compensation, Legal Expert would like to offer you the choice to make a no win no fee compensation claim. A no win no fee claim offers you the option to only pay your solicitor’s fees on the condition that you win your claim. You won’t have to pay an upfront or ongoing fee, instead your fee will come out of your compensation award if and when you win your claim, making it more affordable.
For many clients no win no fee claims are also the less stressful option for making an acupuncture compensation claim, as there is no financial risk to you. To enquire about making a no win no fee claim with Legal Expert, call us today to speak to one of our friendly advisors.
Why Should You Make Your Claim With Us?
If you have experienced an acupuncture injury which was caused by negligence on the part of a practitioner, you could be entitled to make a personal injury claim for thousands of pounds. Trust Legal Expert to help you make your claim. Our understanding acupuncture claims lawyers have plenty of experience handling and winning claims like yours. What’s more, they will always push to get you the maximum amount of compensation that you are owed for your acupuncture injury claims.
If you think you have legitimate reasons for claiming compensation for an injury from negligent acupuncture, call Legal Expert today for your free consultation. We will determine whether or not you have a legitimate claim, then go on to estimate how much compensation you could claim and provide you with an excellent personal injury solicitor to handle your claim. Please call us today to start your claim, we’re looking forward to working with you.
Useful Links
An NHS guide to acupuncture
Find out more about what acupuncture is, how it works, and its medical applications with this guide from the UK’s NHS.
Medical Negligence Claims, How Much Compensation Can I Claim?
Medical negligence can have devastating effects upon patients and can be complex cases to pursue. Find out more about making these type of claims with our guide.
How Much Compensation Can I Claim For Doctor Or GP Negligence?
Find out how much compensation you can claim for negligent treatment carried out by a GP or doctor.
Thank you for reading our guide about acupuncture injury claims.
