If an acupuncture injury has set you back, we'll help you move forward
Injuries from acupuncture gone wrong can cause physical and psychological damage. Compensation claims might cover additional medical treatment and emotional distress.
If your life, or the life of a loved one, has been affected by an acupuncture injury, we can help. If your injuries were caused by the negligence of a doctor, nurse, midwife or other medical professional, you may be entitled to claim compensation.
You can make a No Win, No Fee compensation claim with the help and support of a specialist clinical negligence solicitor.
What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a therapy derived from Chinese medicine. During treatment, fine needles are inserted at certain sites in a patient's to stimulate nerve endings and encourage the release of pain-relieving endorphins.
While often seen as a form of alternative medicine, acupuncture is widely prescribed by the NHS as a treatment for chronic pain of the lower back. Thousands of private patients also turn to acupuncture each year to address ailments including headaches, toothache, allergic reactions, depression and infertility.
See also:
Chronic pain compensation claims
Allergic reaction compensation claims
You are not alone
An estimated 4 million acupuncture sessions are provided annually in the UK (source: bmj.com).
Most of these treatments are completed without incident. However, analysis of the data reported in a survey carried out in 2001, shows that 6.84% of acupuncture sessions resulted in an adverse event, with injuries ranging from tissue damage to seizures.
Acupuncture is a self-regulating industry, and no formal training or qualifications are necessary for those offering acupuncture services. It is possible that some practitioners are not competent to carry out treatment.
Anyone who suffers an illness or injury after receiving substandard acupuncture treatment may be eligible to make a claim for compensation.
If you decide to make an acupuncture injury claim, your medical negligence solicitor will take you through every step of the claims process. Your solicitor will be with you until you win your claim and get the compensation you need to move forward.
If you need information on acupuncture safety and side effects, visit: acupuncture (nhs.uk).
Side effects of acupuncture
When carried out by a skilled practitioner, acupuncture is usually very safe. Adverse side effects tend to be mild and short-lived. These include pain and bruising at the puncture site, drowsiness and feeling sick, dizzy or faint immediately after treatment.
However, serious adverse events can also occur, including:
- Loss of consciousness
- Abnormal bruising and bleeding
- Abscesses
- Blood-borne infections
- Nerve damage
- Collapsed lungs caused by needles penetrating the patient's chest.
Serious complications from acupuncture are rare. They usually occur as the result of negligent treatment, carried out by an acupuncture practitioner who has not been properly trained or who does not ensure the proper cleanliness of premises, instruments and equipment.
How much compensation can I claim for an acupuncture injury?
Your claim for an acupuncture injury will be based on:
- the severity of your injury,
- the effect of your injury on your everyday routine and your job,
- the financial losses or expenses you've faced because of your injury.
Acupuncture injury
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General damages are awarded for pain, suffering and loss of amenity (PSLA). Awards for general damages are set by the Judicial College (judiciary.uk) and published in their guidelines for personal injury awards.
Special damages are awarded to compensate you for any costs or losses you've incurred or might incur as a result of your accident. These costs might include loss of earnings, or any other out of pocket expenses.
Special damages may also be awarded for medical treatments or procedures that you might need to treat your acupuncture injury, including antibiotics, pain medication and topical treatments.
Read more:
A complete list of recoverable losses in a personal injury claim
How is compensation calculated if I have multiple injuries?
Average acupuncture injury general damages compensation table
The following acupuncture injury payouts refer to the Guidelines for the Assessment of General Damages in Personal Injury Cases, 17th Edition by the Judicial College (oup.com).
These tables are used by solicitors or by the courts as a starting point when calculating your compensation.
Please note: these average figures represent general damages only, and do not include any element of special damages (e.g. lost wages).
Dermatitis
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Short-term dermatitis | Affecting hands or other parts of the body (other than your face and scalp), where symptoms resolve with treatment, or short term aggravation of an existing condition | £1,890 to £4,380 |
| Longer-term dermatitis | Affecting hands or other parts of the body (other than your face and scalp), where symptoms take several months or years to resolve with treatment | £9,590 to £12,660 |
| Dermatitis lasting years or indefinitely | Symptoms that last indefinitely, and that affect your daily life and ability to work | £15,250 to £21,300 |
Facial scarring
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Minor (relatively) | A hardly noticeable scar (or scars) | £1,890 to £3,920 |
| Moderate | A single scar that can be camouflaged with makeup, or multiple small scars that don't markedly affect your appearance | £4,380 to £15,250 |
| Significant | Significant scarring where the worst affects are reduced by cosmetic surgery, and/or with causing a psychological impact | £10,110 to £33,380 |
| Serious | Substantial disfigurement and/or a significant psychological impact | £19,930 to £53,720 |
| Severe | A younger person (under 30) with substantial disfigurement and/or a significant psychological impact | £33,040 to £107,990 |
Non-facial body scars
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Minor | Burns with scarring and ongoing pain | £2,630 to £8,690 |
| Moderate | Scarring such as an exploratory laparotomy scar | Around £9,590 |
| Serious | A noticeable laceration scar or single disfiguring scar | £8,690 to £25,220 |
| Severe | Severe burns with continuing pain and psychological injury | Up to £116,300 |
Regulation of the acupuncture industry
There is no statutory regulation of non-medical acupuncture in the UK. In theory, anyone can offer acupuncture treatment regardless of their level of training or expertise.
However, most practitioners are required to register with their local authority and submit to regular hygiene inspections in order to reduce the risk of infection. There are also a number of acupuncture organisations in the UK which require their members to work according to certain codes of practice. These include The British Medical Acupuncture Society, the Acupuncture Association of Chartered Physiotherapists, and the British Acupuncture Council.
Practitioners are also required to comply with various health and safety legislation regarding needle sterilisation, hand washing and the safe disposal of clinical waste to avoid needlestick injuries.
Making an acupuncture injury claim
A reasonable level of competence is expected from all those offering acupuncture treatments, regardless of whether they are medically qualified. Practitioners are expected to conduct a thorough medical examination to determine suitability for treatment, warn the patient of the risks involved with the procedure and maintain high standards of hygiene at all times.
Where a practitioner fails to meet these standards and causes harm to a patient, it may be possible to claim compensation.
How the cause of your acupuncture injury affects the claims process
The way your acupuncture injury happened will affect your claim. Click the icons below for more details.
Can I make a no win, no fee acupuncture injury claim?
Yes. With no win, no fee, you can claim acupuncture injury compensation without financial risk. If your claim isn't successful, you pay nothing. If you win, you only pay a pre-agreed percentage of your compensation.
Get expert advice now
Interested in talking to a medical negligence specialist about your claim?
- Calls are FREE
- Confidential consultation
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- No Win No Fee solicitors
Call 0800 376 1001
or arrange a callbackAuthor:
Gaynor Haliday, Legal researcher
About the author
Gaynor Haliday is an experienced legal researcher and published author. She has had numerous articles published in the press and is a legal industry commentator.