When you go to a doctor, hospital or seek another type of medical care for a potential health issue, you have an expectation of professional, quality care. Even though most nurses, doctors, and other medical professionals do everything they can to provide quality care to their patients, mistakes can still occur. Sometimes, the mistakes cause life-changing effects for not only the patient but their family.

The medical professional may be considered liable for your injuries if you aren’t treated correctly. This also gives you the right to file a medical malpractice lawsuit. Filing this type of lawsuit can be complex and confusing, and we are here to help. At Fetterman & Associates, we provide aggressive representation for individuals injured due to healthcare professionals’ wrongful acts or negligence.

Common Causes of Medical Malpractice Claims

Here you can learn about the most common reasons medical malpractice claims are filed.

1. Failure to Diagnose or Misdiagnosis

It’s estimated that over 12 million U.S. residents are misdiagnosed in outpatient settings every year.

Misdiagnosis commonly occurs because some diseases and illnesses have unique or obscure symptoms. They may also have similar symptoms to other illnesses, which makes them even more challenging to diagnose properly.

If athe right diagnosis is not provided, it is almost impossible for doctors to create or provide the right treatment. Also, diagnostic efforts cause harm to patients since they may result in a delay or lack of treatment. In some situations, death may even occur. It can also result in extended stays in the hospital, and unnecessary and expensive treatments, which result in a huge financial strain.

2. Failure to Treat

In situations of failure to treat, it means the standards of care a medical caregiver accepts when taking a patient were violated. The negligence can result in a medical malpractice claim.

Some of the most common examples of failure to treat situations include:

  • Not providing follow-up care instructions
  • Releasing patients too soon from a hospital stay
  • Neglecting to consider the patient’s medical history when treating or prescribing prescription medications
  • Not ordering the proper medical tests

In some situations, the doctor’s or medical professionals’ failure to treat is attributed to them attempting to care for more patients than they can handle. If this happens, they must dig into all their resources and send the patient to a different caregiver who can provide proper medical care.

3. Prescription Errors

A prescription drug error occurs if a patient is provided the wrong medication, the improper dosage, or is not made completely aware of the possible side effects.

Patients don’t report some prescription drug efforts. Also, several medical professionals, such as drug manufacturers, doctors, and pharmacists, may be considered at-fault for prescription mistakes or issues.

4. Procedural or Surgical Errors

It doesn’t matter if it is elective or emergency surgery; there are several medical professionals in the operating room with the duty of preventing harm. The same is true for cases of outpatient procedures, like biopsies.

Some common mistakes that may occur during a surgical procedure include:

  • Operating on the wrong part of the body
  • Operating on the wrong patient
  • Medical devices, gauze, or tools left inside the patient
  • Problems related to reactions to anesthesia
  • Not following the accepted medical practices

Anyone in the operating room can make these mistakes. Everyone must communicate important patient information to avoid the possibility of a surgical error.

5. Childbirth Errors

Approximately 20% of all medical malpractice lawsuits are filed against OBGYNs. That’s more than any other one type of doctor.

Both the baby and mother can be a victim of medical malpractice. In cases of negligence while giving birth, several complications may arise, like postpartum hemorrhage (the top cause of maternal death after giving birth), spinal cord injuries, and fetal distress.

While some complications can’t be avoided, mothers and babies must receive the highest level of care doctors can provide.

Services Offered by Medical Malpractice Lawyers

Suppose you or someone in your family has experienced an injury or illness that you believe occurred due to a medical mistake or error. In that case, it is recommended that you contact a medical malpractice attorney.

This legal professional will investigate the circumstances surrounding your case, find the liable parties, and help you recover damages for the emotional and physical injuries you suffered.

In some situations, you can receive damages for lost pay, medical treatment, and any other losses you have incurred. It’s also possible that you can prevent someone else from being harmed due to a negligent nurse, doctor, or medical professional.

Our team at Fetterman & Associates is here to help with your medical malpractice lawsuit. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation at (561) 468-5729.

 

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