Acupuncture injury compensation claims

If you have suffered an injury or illness from negligent acupuncture treatment, we can help you make an acupuncture injury claim.

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Acupuncture Injury Claims

Acupuncture is generally considered safe when carried out by a properly trained practitioner. However, if performed incorrectly, it can cause serious injuries, such as nerve damage, infection, fainting, organ punctures and long-term pain.

If you suffered harm because an acupuncturist failed to provide safe and competent treatment, you may be eligible to make an acupuncture injury claim. A specialist solicitor can help you to secure compensation for your pain, suffering, lost earnings and any long-term effects.

To find out if you are eligible to claim compensation, call 0800 470 0474 today for a free consultation with a legal adviser or use our online claim form to request a call back.

Find out if you can claim

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Table of Contents

What is an acupuncture negligence claim?

An acupuncture negligence claim is a type of medical negligence claim made when a patient is injured, made ill or suffers unnecessary pain because an acupuncturist failed to provide a reasonable standard of care.

Examples of acupuncture negligence include:

Using unsterilised or contaminated needles.
Inserting needles too deeply or in unsafe areas.
Poor hygiene practices and failing to use clean needles.
Lack of informed consent and failure to warn of risks.
Failing to check medical history, such as bleeding disorders.

A negligence compensation claim will cover all your pain, suffering and related financial losses and expenses.

Am I eligible to make an acupuncture injury compensation claim?

Yes, you could make a personal injury claim if you suffered avoidable harm due to negligent acupuncture treatment if:

An acupuncture practitioner owed you a legal duty of care – All practitioners providing acupuncture owe patients a legal duty to deliver safe and competent treatment.
There was a breach of duty – They failed to follow safety practices or acted in a negligent way.
You suffered an injury as a result – The negligence caused you a physical or psychological injury and potentially financial losses.
Your injury happened within the past three years, unless an exception applies.

Who is responsible for an acupuncture injury?

Although acupuncture is not statutorily regulated in the UK, responsibility for an injury will depend on who carried out your treatment and the standards they were required to follow.

NHS acupuncturists

If treatment is provided through the NHS, it will usually be performed by a physiotherapist, GP or nurse. These healthcare providers are regulated by bodies such as the General Medical Council (GMC) and are required to provide treatment with reasonable skill and care.

If they provide negligent care, the NHS may be liable for your injury, and your claim will be handled by NHS Resolution. Read more: NHS clinical negligence claims.

Private acupuncturists

When seeking treatment from a private acupuncture therapist, the NHS strongly recommends choosing someone registered with either:

The British Acupuncture Council (BAcC).
The British Medical Acupuncture Society (BMAS).
The Acupuncture Association of Chartered Physiotherapists (AACP).

These voluntary professional bodies require members to:

Meet specific training standards.
Maintain professional indemnity insurance.
Follow codes of safe practice and ethics.
Complete regular continuing professional development (CPD).

If a private practitioner breaches these standards and causes harm, you may be able to claim against their insurer.

What is the time limit to claim for acupuncture gone wrong?

Under the Limitation Act 1980, you generally have three years to start an acupuncture injury claim. This is three years from either:

The date the negligent treatment occurred.
The date you first became aware that the injury was caused by negligence.

Exceptions include:

Children – A child injury claim can be made at any time until the child turns 18, from which they have three years to make a claim themselves.
Protected parties – If the claimant is an adult who lacks mental capacity and cannot handle a claim, there is no limitation date for a litigation friend to represent them.

How do I make a claim for negligent acupuncture?

Claiming compensation for your injuries is straightforward and involves several simple steps. A solicitor will:

Assess your case during a free consultation over the phone and identify the liable party.
Help you gather evidence, such as medical records, photos of injuries, witness statements and expert medical reports.
Send a letter of claim to the practitioner or clinic outlining your allegations and the compensation you seek.
Negotiate a settlement with their insurer.
Issue court proceedings if liability is denied, although most claims (over 97%) settle without a trial.

How much compensation could I receive for acupuncture injuries?

The level of compensation you could receive for injuries caused by acupuncture will depend on their type and severity, and will cover two forms of damages:

General damages take into account the pain, distress and loss of amenity caused to you.
Special damages cover financial losses and expenses, such as prescriptions, physiotherapy and loss of earnings.

According to our personal injury compensation calculator, you could receive:

Up to £4,050 for minor puncture injuries with recovery within 6 months.
Up to £5,000 for a collapsed lung (pneumothorax) with no long-term consequences.
Up to £9,630 for minor neck injuries causing pain and discomfort for up to 2 years.
Up to £10,750 for damage to nerves resulting in partial loss of sensation in the fingers.
Up to £56,180 for moderately severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Up to £63,980 for severe infections causing long-term symptoms.
Up to £66,920 for a lung injury leading to a permanent disability.

Will I be able to make a No Win No Fee acupuncture claim?

Yes. If you have a valid acupuncture claim for personal injury and medical negligence, your solicitor will represent you under a conditional fee agreement (no win no fee). This means that:

You do not have to pay a single penny upfront.
There will be no charges or hidden costs throughout the claims process.
If your case fails, you won’t have to pay a single penny.
If you win compensation, your solicitor will deduct a success fee (capped at 25%).

Frequently asked questions

Acupuncture is a therapeutic treatment that involves inserting very fine needles into specific points on the body. The practice originates from traditional Chinese medicine, where it is believed to rebalance the flow of energy (Qi).

In the UK, acupuncture is widely used in healthcare, including by the NHS, because the needles can stimulate nerves, muscles and connective tissue, which may help release endorphins, improve blood flow, relieve pain and promote healing.

Acupuncture is currently recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) for a wide range of conditions, including:

Chronic pain, such as back pain, neck pain and joint pain.
Migraines and tension headaches.
Anxiety and stress.
Muscle spasms and sports injuries.
Prostatitis symptoms.
Pain caused by toothache and medical operations.

When performed incorrectly or negligently, there can be various acupuncture side effects and injuries, including:

Nerve damage, causing numbness, tingling or long-term pain.
Infections from unsterilised needles or poor hygiene.
Punctured lungs from needles inserted too deeply.
Excessive bleeding or bruising.
Muscle or tissue damage.
Fainting, dizziness or shock from improper needling.
The worsening of pre-existing conditions.
Spinal injuries, including paralysis, if the needle slips between the vertebrae.

Yes. You may be able to claim compensation for emotional distress and other types of psychological harm if you were injured by a negligent acupuncturist. This can include:

Anxiety around needles or future medical treatment.
Panic attacks.
Distress from the incident itself.
Trauma linked to a painful or frightening experience.

To include this in your claim, you will need evidence from a psychologist or mental health specialist confirming your distress and the impact on your life.

Yes. Signing a waiver or consent form does not prevent you from making a claim if you suffered avoidable harm receiving acupuncture. A consent form only shows that you agreed to the treatment and were made aware of the inherent risks of the procedure.

Waivers do not prevent claims arising from substandard care, such as a lack of hygiene, deep needle insertion, or failure to respond to adverse reactions.

If you were injured by a negligently performed acupuncture and want to start a claim, call 0800 470 0474 today for a free case assessment or request a call back. A friendly solicitor will explain your legal rights and guide you through the claims process.

Last edited on 19th Dec 2025

With over 15 years’ experience in the legal sector, Nicholas Tate (LLB Hons, LLM in Health Law) has extensive experience across all areas of personal injury and medical negligence claims.