Unfortunately, errors happen in the medical field and can occur in any setting. Studies have reported that medical malpractice is the third leading cause of death in the United States.
Not all situations meet the criteria necessary to file a medical malpractice claim. If you feel like you may be a victim of medical malpractice, it is best to consult with an expert medical malpractice attorney to help you determine if your claim is viable and protect your rights and needs.
Various acts of negligence qualify as medical malpractice that can cause patients to suffer or die due to health care providers and their actions or decisions. As experts in the medical malpractice field, we will review ten of the most common types of medical malpractice to help you understand what may qualify for a medical malpractice lawsuit.
1. Misdiagnosis
The most common type of medical malpractice is misdiagnosing a condition or a misdiagnosis that leads to severe harm or death. When a medical condition is improperly diagnosed, a patient can miss out on treatment opportunities, could receive incorrect treatments, or be prescribed medications that could result in harm to the patient.
2. Errors During Surgery
Various errors can occur during surgery, including:
- Operating on the incorrect body part
- Operating on the wrong patient
- Inadequate post-surgical care
- Unsanitary conditions or surgical tools that lead to severe infections, illness, or death
- Surgical instruments have been left in a patient’s body after surgery
3. Failure to Treat or Diagnose
Failure to treat occurs when a healthcare professional fails to take adequate steps to diagnose or treat the patient’s condition, the consequences of which could be debilitating or deadly for the patient. Some examples include:
- Diagnosis is made using incorrect test results
- Test results are misinterpreted, leading to a wrong diagnosis
- Not performing required testing
- Failing to treat or diagnose because the patient is unable to pay
- Failing to inform the patient of all available treatment options
- Not providing a referral to a patient when their condition requires one
- Delaying diagnosis or treatment when their condition requires immediate attention
4. Injuries During Childbirth
Birth injuries occur when a technician or doctor makes errors during labor, delivery, or pregnancy. One of the most common injuries during childbirth is cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy happens when the baby is deprived of oxygen during the birthing process. Other pregnancy and childbirth-related injuries can include:
- Improper monitoring during pregnancy
- Failure to discover an ectopic pregnancy
- Failure to diagnose a medical condition of the mother during pregnancy
- Failure to find birth defects
- Failure to anticipate complications because of the size of the baby
- Not responding to fetal distress
- Fail to perform a c-section when necessary
- Improper use of a vacuum extractor or forceps
5. Misdiagnosis of Cancer
A misdiagnosis of cancer may have fatal consequences for the patient. When a patient is not diagnosed in the beginning stages, the disease will be able to progress and become more severe, making treatment less or no longer successful.
6. Medication Mistakes
Sometimes a doctor will make an error when administering or prescribing the wrong dosage of medication. Occasionally, a pharmacist may read the prescription wrong, resulting in dispensing the wrong medication or inaccurately preparing the patient’s medicine. Another possible medication error may occur when the doctor fails to check for interactions with current medications or possible drug allergies.
7. Development of Bedsores
Bedsores develop when patients are in the same position for too long and are an indication of inadequate care or neglect. Bedsores are most common in nursing homes or hospitals. If left untreated, bedsores can develop into an infection leading to serious health issues.
8. Anesthesia Problems and Errors
While patients are under anesthesia, mistakes made by anesthesiologists can cause death, brain damage, or permanent injury. The most common errors with anesthesia are improperly monitoring a patient’s vital signs during surgery, failure to research the patient’s medical history or failure to communicate the necessary preoperative procedure to the patient.
9. Dental-Related Mistakes
Dentists and oral surgeons also make harmful mistakes that can cause serious harm to the patient. This is especially true if there is a misdiagnosis of oral cancer or an error in administering oral anesthesia.
10. Failing to Treat or Prevent Infections
Infection occurs in hospital patients more frequently than you would think. And for immunocompromised individuals or elderly patients, the possibility of an infection turning lifer threatening is higher. Infections known as “superbugs” are commonly picked up in hospitals and are resistant to traditionally used antibiotics.
The patient may have a reasonable medical malpractice claim if an infection is caused by:
- Unsanitary conditions
- Staff member’s lack of protocol implementation, such as hand washing or wearing mask
Let Steve Newman Legal Help You With Your Medical Malpractice Claim
Thanks to the advancements in medicine, there is technology that can help reduce the instances of medical malpractice. But unfortunately, technology can’t eliminate the possibility of a medical error. If you or a loved one has been affected by medical malpractice, hiring an experienced attorney to help determine if you have the grounds to file a medical malpractice lawsuit is essential.
The Law Offices of Steve Newman can provide expert legal help to ensure your rights are protected and that you have an experienced attorney fighting for you. Whether you have a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit, Personal Injury, Wage and Hour, or Merit Systems Protection Board claim, our law office has the legal expertise to help you.
Contact us today for a free consultation.
