Medical errors are considered one of the leading causes of death in the US. According to research and statistics, around 250,000 people die every year because of medical malpractice. Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare professional’s negligence leads to harm, injury, or death of a patient.
Unlike car accidents, where establishing negligence is relatively easy, in medical errors it can take time for patients to know they have been wronged. Victims should hire lawyers specializing in medical malpractice cases to help them determine if their injuries or damages are directly related to negligence.
In this article, we will discuss the common forms of medical malpractice everyone should know about.
Misdiagnosis of Delayed Diagnosis
According to a VA researcher, as of 2014, 12 million people were misdiagnosed every year in the US. This happens when a doctor fails to correctly diagnose a patient’s condition, leading to incorrect treatment or a delay in getting proper care.
Misdiagnosis can lead to death or even permanent disability. One study showed that misdiagnosis alone led to 424,000 people being permanently disabled. This mainly results from inadequate testing, not considering a patient’s medical history, or errors in interpreting results. When this happens, a patient can file a medical malpractice claim.
Surgical Errors
This is another common and very alarming medical malpractice. Surgical errors include:
- Operating on the wrong organ or side of the body
- Amputating the wrong limb
- Leaving surgical instruments, especially sponges, in the body
- Administering the wrong anesthetic dosage
- Doing unnecessary surgeries because of wrong tests
These can have severe consequences like brain damage, disabilities, and even death. While some surgical complications are unavoidable, preventable errors qualify as malpractice.
Medication Mistakes
Medication errors can occur in different stages during a patient’s treatment. It can include prescribing the wrong medication or administering the wrong dose. A doctor can also prescribe medicine that doesn’t mix well with the patient’s other medication, which could lead to complications.
Sometimes, a pharmacist may issue the wrong drug after misreading the prescription. For inpatients, nurses may give the dosage at the wrong time. All these could lead to serious health complications and even fatalities.
Birth Injuries
Childbirth should be a fun time but medical errors during labor and delivery can ruin the moment. Misusing the medical equipment or using the wrong delivery techniques can cause serious harm to the mother and the baby. Sometimes, healthcare professionals fail to properly monitor the patients, leading to fetal distress.
The common types of birth injuries include:
- Performing unnecessary or delays in doing a required C-section
- Cerebral palsy because of oxygen deprivation to the baby
- Improper use of forceps that can cause fractures
- Excessive bleeding
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
Parents can sue to get compensation and the long-term needs of their child taken care of.
Not Getting Consent
Before doing any medical procedure, doctors must get consent from a patient or those close. Patients have the right to be informed about the procedure, any potential risks, and alternative options. If a doctor does a procedure without properly briefing a patient or those close, and the patient ends up getting harmed, it can be considered malpractice.
Conclusion
Medical malpractice comes in different forms. Either way, it has serious consequences for the patient and those close. Victims need to seek compensation for their injuries.
