When visiting the doctor’s office or hospital, we put our trust in the hands of the doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals. In many cases, we are in a very vulnerable situation due to an injury or illness and are relying on the medical professionals to provide the necessary care so we can fully recover. While the medical professionals do an excellent job in the vast majority of cases, there are times when they fail to provide the necessary care. When this happens, it can result in making the issue much worse or even causing unnecessary death.
If you or a loved one has been treated improperly by a medical professional, you may have a medical malpractice case on your hands. Understanding some of the common issues that can result in a lawsuit is very important. The following medical errors are among the most likely to lead to a successful medical malpractice suit.
Errors During Surgery
Surgery is a serious procedure no matter the specifics. Whether you’re having your appendix removed or going through a major bypass, the doctors and other medical professionals need to take it very seriously. There are times when a medical professional will make an error during surgery, which can have terrible results. Some common examples of this would be operating on the wrong body part, leaving surgical tools inside the patient, and other issues of negligence. Surgery-related errors are the cause of about a third of medical malpractice cases!
Misdiagnosis
Diagnosing an illness or condition can be quite difficult, and it is understandable that it can sometimes take some time and testing to get to the bottom of an issue. When doctors or other medical professionals fail to order tests that standard practices dictate or they improperly read the results of a test, it can result in a misdiagnosis or a delayed diagnosis. This type of problem can cause a wide range of different problems, which is why it is taken so seriously by the courts.
Issues with Medication
Medication is used to treat a wide range of different health problems. When the wrong medications are used or a medication that the patient is allergic to is given, it can cause major problems. Approximately 1.5 million people each year experience some type of issue related to medications from doctors. This could be a doctor or nurse giving a medication that they should have known they were allergic to, or the pharmacist filling the prescription with the wrong medication.
Improper Use of Anesthesia
Anesthesia is necessary for many types of medical procedures including virtually any surgery. When using anesthesia, the medical professionals need to be careful to use the correct type and in the correct dosages to ensure the patient doesn’t experience issues. Too much anesthesia can cause brain damage or even death. Not enough can result in the patient waking up in the middle of surgery. Anesthesiologists receive extensive training on how to determine how much of a given drug they should use, so mistakes in this area can often qualify for a malpractice suit.
Get the Representation You Need
Medical malpractice cases can be extraordinarily complex and need to be handled correctly from beginning to end. We have helped many clients through these cases and helped win them substantial settlements and judgments. Please contact us to schedule a consultation to determine if you have a strong case.
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