6 Common Cases of Medical Malpractice

by Kevin Smith Author

If you believe you're a victim of medical malpractice, you need to get medical legal consulting services. Here are some of the most common cases practitioners deal with:

Misdiagnosis or Failure to Diagnose

Sometimes, a doctor will fail to recognize and diagnose an illness. This can lead to the condition progressing to a more advanced stage. The patient might miss treatment opportunities that are only available when the problem hasn't fully developed yet.

In serious cases such as cancer, an inaccurate or late diagnosis may be fatal.

Medication Error

This form of malpractice can happen in many ways. A doctor might make an error on the initial prescription, fail to notice a potentially harmful drug interaction or administer the wrong medication.

Surgical Mistake

Surgeons may be experienced and capable, but they can still make mistakes. And while the errors are usually minor, some may lead to severe consequences ranging from lifelong disability to death.

The most common cases include performing the wrong surgery, leaving surgical instruments inside the patient, or amputating the wrong limb.

Anesthesia Error

This happens more often than surgery errors, and they're a lot more dangerous. Even a small mistake can cause permanent injury, brain damage, or death.

Typical cases of malpractice by anesthesiologists may include failure to investigate their patient's medical history or not informing them of the necessary preoperative procedures. It can also be as simple as giving too much anesthesia, failing to monitor their vital signs, or using defective equipment.

Birth Injury

If a physician makes an error during the birthing process, it can have lifelong effects on the child. It may injure the newborn and cause cerebral palsy, paralysis, nerve damage, or developmental disorder, among other conditions.

These injuries can happen at different points. The doctor may have failed to identify an ectopic pregnancy, respond to signs of fetal distress, or administer a cesarean when needed.

Hospital Infection

A hospital is supposed to be the safest place to be if you're injured or dangerously ill. But it's also full of harmful pathogens brought in by sick patients.

To qualify for a hospital infection claim, it must occur:

· Up to 48 hours after admission

· Up to 3 days after discharge

· Up to 30 days after surgery

· In a medical facility where the patient was admitted for a reason other than the infection

To look for medical legal consulting services, start with a simple online search. You can discuss your options with expert medical witnesses and figure out the best way to handle your claim.