Category: Technology
Preventing medical implant problems is key for the future
It may sound obvious when we talk about the importance of preventing medical implant problems before mass scandals occur, but it is a key point to raise given our line of work.
As specialist Group Action Lawyers, we have represented thousands of people engaged in group and multi-party actions. Some of those have been for medical implant scandals, including the PIP Breast Implant Scandal, the Vaginal and Hernia Mesh issues, and the Metal-On-Metal Hip Implant cases. What this means is that we have seen first-hand just how badly patients can suffer when things go wrong, and we do not want to see a repeat of such scandals and the awful consequences that ensue. Whilst it can be difficult to prevent problems like the PIP Breast Implant cases where deceit was involved, preventing medical implant scandals through better testing and warnings is a development to push forward with.
It is easy to look back in hindsight and see what could have been done differently. But it is important to look to the future to make sure that there are no repeats of mistakes that could have been prevented.
Data breach group actions for accessing medical records inappropriately
Accessing medical records without any sound reason to do so, and/or without authority to do so, can constitute a breach of vital data protection laws. Where this happens on a large scale, many people may be eligible to join their claims to form a group or multi-party action.
Data breach group actions is a particular area of law that we have a great deal of experience in, and we represent thousands of clients who are currently engaged in dozens of them with us. For eligible clients, we work on a No Win, No Fee basis, and we are pursuing actions right now where the breach stemmed from medical records being inappropriately accessed.
Our medical records contain some of the most personal and sensitive information about us that there can be. It is so important that they are protected from misuse and exposure, and when this happens we know that victims can suffer from considerable distress. The law can allow victims to claim data breach compensation for such distress, and we can represent victims for legal cases.
Cyberattacks targeting medical devices: a cause for concern?
The idea of cyberattacks targeting medical devices is not so much a theory nowadays, but more of a real cause for concern that needs to be addressed.
As specialist Group Action Lawyers, we are used to seeing the harm caused to real people when things go wrong on a large scale. Whilst we are always here to help, prevention is always better than having to deal with the aftermath. As such, hacks and how they apply to an increasingly digitised world is something that we all need to be wary of; especially when it comes to the healthcare sector.
Sterility problems and compensation actions
Anyone who has been adversely affected by sterility problems could be entitled to pursue a claim for personal injury compensation on a No Win, No Fee basis.
As a firm of specialist Group Action Lawyers, we have represented many victims for issues concerning the sterility of equipment and devices, and there have been plenty of regulatory recalls over the years where this has been the issue.
A single event or a prolonged problem where an issue over sterility occurs could lead to thousands of people being put at risk. Anyone who has ever suffered harm in this way could be entitled to pursue a claim for damages.
The wider importance of our emissions actions
Our emissions actions now number at over 30 in terms of the number of carmakers that we are taking legal cases forward for, representing thousands of people on a No Win, No Fee basis.
Whilst action for justice for the consumers is important and is an integral part of what we are doing, it is also incredibly important to recognise the wider importance of the action that we are taking. It is about punishments and deterrents and, given the impact that cheating emissions can have on human health and on our environment, our work is vital.
Eye injury group action claims for compensation
Eye injury group action cases can mean representing some of the most seriously injured people there can be when this vital sense is harmed or adversely affected by a problem.
We have, and still do, represent people claiming in group/multi-party cases for eye injury claims. If you need advice about an ongoing action, or about a potential new action, we are always happy to hear from you.
You can speak to the team for free, no-obligation advice here now.
The priority of protecting consumers from unsafe products
Protecting consumers from unsafe products must always be seen as an absolute priority in the UK and, indeed, around the world.
This is why we were keen to see the results of a recent parliamentary publication. This publication has highlighted a number of flaws and matters to be addressed to ensure that the public is properly protected from harm. We will take a brief look at the headings in terms of the areas of concern, and give our expert take on things.
In terms of action for justice, we remind people that we can represent victims of harm caused by products on a No Win, No Fee basis.
Files on dark web after Stor-A-File cyberattack
It has been reported that tens of thousands of files that were exposed in the recent Stor-A-File cyberattack are now on the dark web and could be exploited by criminals.
We recently reported on the Lister Fertility Clinic data breach, which is one of the organisations affected by the cyberattack that involved services that they outsourced to Stor-A-File. The clinic has written to some 1,700 patients to inform them that their personal and sensitive medical details could be affected by the data breach. This latest development will no doubt come as a further blow now we know that information has been exposed on the dark web.
As leading Group Action Lawyers, we are taking action now and you can speak to the team here for confidential advice on pursuing a data breach compensation claim.
ForHousing and Liberty cyberattack causes data leak
ForHousing and Liberty have recently been subjected to a ransomware attack after ForViva, a social housing group that manages properties in the North West, was targeted. While the impact of the breach has not been fully revealed, it has been stated by the company executive that a small degree of information has been leaked as a result of the event.
Though the attack is said to have begun on 26th July, the incident was first reported on 19th August, at which point ForViva issued assurances that the majority of information had been kept safe. Nevertheless, the incident may have raised concerns among tenants, staff and clients of the company, as ransomware can be one of the most serious cyber threats a company can be subjected to.
Incidents like this need to be carefully assessed to get a sense of the damage. Where data has been compromised, those affected may be eligible to claim compensation as part of a data breach claim. If you have been told that your data has been compromised in the ForHousing cyberattack, you may be entitled to claim, so contact our team today for free, no-obligation advice.
Labour Party data breach event
It is understood that the Labour Party data breach event stemmed from a ransomware cyberattack that was initiated at the end of October 2021.
The Labour Party was forced to write to members at the start of November to confirm that their personal information could be affected by the incident. Recent data shows that Labour Party membership numbers are in the region of half a million, so we could easily be talking about hundreds of thousands of people being affected in the event of any information caught up in the attack is misused or exposed.
We continue to monitor developments of this incident closely, and we are taking on claims for data breach compensation now. If personal information is misused or exposed, victims affected could be entitled to pursue a data breach compensation claim now.
Sky Vegas email promoting services sent to self-excluded customers
It appears that an error has resulted in a Sky Vegas email that was promoting enticing gambling offers was sent out on a mass basis, including to people self-excluding from gambling.
It can be possible for people to self-exclude from gambling using a platform directly or through a service such as GamStop. This can prevent them from using gambling services, and it is a vital tool to protect people who may suffer from gambling addictions and may be losing a significant amount of money. You would not expect such vulnerable people to receive an email with enticing gambling offers, and it seems that Sky Vegas should have excluded those people from their marketing promotion.
Unfortunately, they failed to do so. This may mean that people suffering from addictions could be at risk of relapsing having received the email, and we expect people to be understandably distressed over the event.
Emissions compensation actions
As one of the first law firms to take on claims against Volkswagen in England and Wales, we went on to pioneer car emissions litigation, initiating group actions against a number of other car manufacturers. Now, we have initiated a number of emissions compensation actions against carmakers who have also become embroiled in emissions allegations.
In 2015, it emerged that Volkswagen vehicles may have been emitting far more toxic NOx (nitrous oxide) than was first believed. Carmakers are bound by strict emissions regulations, but it seemed that Volkswagen had been using so-called defeat devices, a type of software installed in engines as a means of disguising the true emissions output of its diesel vehicles.
While Volkswagen has been found guilty of using defeat devices, thus far, we believe there is sufficient information for us to investigate many car manufacturers in respect of emissions cheating. If the allegations are proven, more car manufacturers may not only have broken emissions regulations, but they may also have breached consumer law. If you own or previously owned an affected vehicle, you can register for an emissions compensation claim today to seek the justice you deserve.