Errors can happen, even in a medical setting. However, some of the most devastating outcomes can occur depending on the circumstances. While a number of problems may not have any serious consequences, it could be that others lead to long-term or life-changing scenarios – or even worse.
If you believe you’ve been subjected to any type of medical malpractice, then you need to know what types of claims may exist in this area. Here’s what you could learn about, and could consider if you’re looking to make a medical malpractice claim involving either yourself or someone else in your family:
Errors in surgical procedures
Many of us think that surgeons need a steady hand, yet they need to have more skills than that. These are preventable errors; this can be a matter of concentration, focus, being thorough, communicating with the surgical team, plus reading. Malpractice lawsuits that have been lodged include:
- Anesthesia errors
- Leaving surgical tools in a patient
- Operating on the wrong area, or on the wrong patient
Obstetric errors
This is supposed to be a happy time but, unfortunately, the worst nightmares can happen. These obstetric errors can cause injury to not only the mother but also to the baby. Some of the main reasons why doctors could face a malpractice lawsuit include negligence during labor and delivery, failure to monitor the mother during pregnancy, or birth injuries. These mistakes are normally unintentional but, despite the efforts of a doctor, errors can affect the lives of the mothers and their babies.
Misdiagnosis, delayed diagnosis, or failure to diagnose
There are situations that patients experience every day. They can be either being told they have one condition when they have something worse, or they tell their doctor they have pain and they’re told it’s nothing when it’s actually something that’s life-threatening.
A doctor will need to be incredibly thorough and pay attention to every symptom that a patient tells them they’re experiencing. A doctor saying, “You’re fine” might end up being the statement that has them facing a claim, stating why they didn’t take you more seriously. If you think a similar situation has happened to you, then speaking with specialists such as Brown and Crouppen Law Firm will help you decide if you can claim.
Medication errors
Issues such as these cause at least one death every day in the United States and injure 1.3 million people every year in the country. These errors can range from the initial prescription to the administration of the drug itself but it can often include problems with the dosage. These medication errors are such an issue that the World Health Organization is taking measures worldwide to decrease these preventable events.
There are other areas you may consider, such as poor documentation or injury during treatment, for example, so it’s worth looking into this area. Speaking to someone with experience in this area of law can help you to decide whether you can make a claim because of medical malpractice.