Our Everyday Dilemma this week is from Maureen, who suffers from a medical condition.

While she doesn’t want us to mention the specifics of the condition, we can tell you that she’s lived with chronic pain for the past 15 years.

A few years ago, a specialist suggested she undergo an operation that could minimise her pain. Initially it seemed to work, but eventually, the procedure proved ineffective. Not only did her pain get worse, but a new area of pain also developed around the area where the operation had been performed.

Over the years to come, Maureen’s specialist kept on increasing her pain medication - instead of searching to find the root of the problem.

Recently, Maureen woke up, one side of her body paralysed, and was rushed to hospital, where tests showed a large growth had developed around the area of the previous operation.

She’s in rehabilitation now and thankfully is able to move around, but more and more it’s looking like the paralysis she experienced was due to a bad operation by the specialist in the first place.

Maureen’s dilemma is this – Should she seek compensation?

• She believes her specialist has been negligent, but she’s afraid that legal action could open up a very stressful, not to mention costly, period of her life. It might also be unsuccessful, and prove to be a waste of time and money.
• On the other hand, she’s copped some major costs as a result of the dodgy operation, and it doesn’t seem fair to have to wear the costs of consulting this specialist for so long.
• Is taking legal action against a medical practitioner worth it? And as a Christian, should Maureen just ‘turn the other cheek’ anyway?
• She is concerned about not being too anxious to seek revenge, or too greedy for financial compensation…. Is it ok as a Christian to seek compensation when it’s clear that someone has done you wrong?