Common types of medical malpractice claims

On Behalf of | Sep 10, 2021 | Medical Malpractice

The bond of trust that patients have with their doctors represents a sacred pact. Those needing medical care are literally putting their lives on the line under the presumption that their physicians are competent, skilled, and thorough.

That bond is shattered when medical malpractice makes a bad situation worse or results in the tragic loss of loved ones. Negligence that takes the form of malpractice still occurs with the most common cases that include the following:

Misdiagnosis/delayed diagnosis

Ranking first among all malpractice claims in outpatient environments, this form of malpractice is particularly dangerous. Time is of the essence when it comes to diagnosing a serious disease accurately and timely. Simply put, getting it wrong can lead to unnecessary and ineffective treatments that could lead to serious side effects.

Childbirth

Childbirth can be a chaotic experience where medical professionals must make quick decisions under pressure. Because of that, OB/GYNs represent the most significant number of physicians sued.  Injuries can take many forms and result in seizures, cerebral palsy, and paralysis. Even before the blessed event occurs, negligence can play a role in prenatal care with failures to diagnose preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and other medical conditions that can harm the fetus.

Anesthesia

While not as common, the dangers are significant should errors or oversights occur. Anesthesiologists must have complete knowledge of patients’ histories, particularly when it comes to potential complications. Failing to provide the simplest of pre-operative advice where patients should not eat before a certain time can create complications. During the surgery, neglecting the amount of anesthesia, not monitoring vital signs, and failures in intubation can have tragic consequences.

Medication errors

Statistics reveal up to 9,000 people in the U.S. die due to errors in medication, whether it involves mistaken prescriptions, improper drug administration, or oversights in potential drug interactions. Hospitals are often settings for mistakes involving dosages or mixing up medication for a patient.

Surgical errors

Negligence by surgeons can include puncturing an organ, operating in the wrong area, or leaving sponges and instruments inside a patient. However, they are not the only parties in a lawsuit following significant errors committed during surgery. Nursing staff can make mistakes following the surgery that result in wrong medications provided to patients and postop instructions to patients that are anything but adequate.

Malpractice cases are complex, requiring the help of an attorney who focuses on this area of practice and skilled in advocating for victims of wrongdoing by medical professionals.

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