When faced with a medical issue, we trust healthcare professionals for safe and effective treatment. Unfortunately, that isn’t always the case. Sometimes, they make mistakes that cause their patients harm or even death. Legally, we refer to this situation as “medical malpractice.”
Malpractice happens for many reasons. In this article, we offer some of the most common.
- Misdiagnosis
Misdiagnosis comes in multiple forms. It could be an incorrect diagnosis, where a doctor mistakes one illness for another. It can also be a failure to diagnose a condition.
When a doctor overlooks or ignores symptoms or warning signs, treatment may be delayed or misdirected, making the patient's true condition worse.
A bad diagnosis can have long-term consequences, including physical and emotional distress. It also creates a financial burden associated with ongoing medical care.
- Incorrect Prescriptions
Prescribing medication is a crucial aspect of healthcare, but the wrong medication or an incorrect dosage can have disastrous results.
An incorrect prescription can lead to injury in several ways. It can cause the condition to worsen, delay or prevent effective treatment, and increase the risk of side effects or adverse reactions. In some cases, it can create long-term damage or disability. Prescription errors are considered medical negligence and can result in compensation claims if they cause you harm.
- Improper Hospital Care
When patients enter a hospital, they expect to be treated with the utmost care and attention. Unfortunately, there are instances where hospital staff fail to provide adequate care.
This negligence can take many forms, such as failing to properly monitor a patient's vital signs, administering the wrong medication or dosage, or neglecting to sanitize equipment properly. As a result, patients can suffer from infections, sepsis, or other life-threatening complications.
A simple clerical error can lead to medical malpractice, too. A patient could receive the wrong medication, undergo the wrong procedure, or experience a delay in treatment.
- Surgical Mistakes
Surgical mistakes can have disastrous consequences for patients and their families. These mistakes range wildly. They can be errors like forgetting medical equipment inside a patient's body, operating on the wrong site, or performing an unnecessary procedure.
Such errors can result in infections, severe pain, or even death.
- Birth Injuries
These are caused by medical professionals failing to spot and diagnose issues with expectant mothers or newborns. They can happen before, during, and after childbirth.
These injuries can range from minor bruises and cuts to severe and permanent damage such as cerebral palsy or brain damage. They can have a lasting impact on the child's quality of life and take a significant emotional toll on the parents.
- Anesthesia Errors
These errors can have devastating consequences for patients. When a doctor administers too much anesthesia for a procedure, it can lead to serious health complications such as brain damage or even death. Giving too little a dose could lead to someone awakening during surgery.
Anesthesia errors can occur when medical professionals fail to properly assess a patient's medical history, provide proper dosages, or monitor vital signs during the procedure.
If you’ve suffered from medical malpractice, Law Offices of Jason K.S. Porter, P.A. is here for you. We can help you seek compensation for your injuries, making your journey to recovery more comfortable. For a free consultation, you can reach us online or call our office at (904) 701-0591.