Common Causes of Medical Malpractice
A patient that has been harmed or loses their life while under the care of a physician, nurse, or other professional in a health care setting may be liable for medical malpractice. If you believe that you or someone that you love has suffered consequences as a result of incompetence, a lawsuit can help recover from the expenses and trauma of poor treatment. Certain errors occur more frequently than others, but it is important to know that negligence must be proven to truly have a case.
Childbirth Injuries
Many mistakes can happen when delivering a child if the physician is negligent to take all of the necessary precautions. A brain injury, nerve damage, and fractured bones have the potential to complicate or end the life of a helpless baby.
- Prenatal negligence can occur with a failure to identify certain birth defects, an ectopic pregnancy, diseases that are passed between mother and baby, or medical conditions of the mother (hypoglycemia, anemia, preeclampsia) that could cause other complications.
- Childbirth negligence includes a failure to require a cesarean section when necessary, use of forceps or a vacuum extractor, not responding to indications of fetal distress, or failing to anticipate complications in the birthing process (tangled umbilical cord, large size, breech birth)
Misdiagnosis or Delayed Diagnosis
The majority of cases reported involve complaints of a missed treatment opportunity or the failure to diagnose a serious condition in a timely manner. Evidence used to prove this type of claim involves considering the time and method a doctor uses to handle a patient compared with other professionals working in the same specialty. If another doctor would have provided a proper diagnosis under reasonably similar circumstances, then the professional in question may be found liable for the consequences.
Medication Error
An average of 1.5 million patients are harmed each year due to an error with their medication. An example of this problem includes having the wrong medication prescribed, possibly due to a condition misdiagnosis. Others are harmed because a medical professional administering drugs in a hospital or other treatment facility mixes up the patients being treated.
Anesthesia Errors
Failing to keep an eye on vital signs or administering too much anesthesia to a patient have potentially deadly consequences. Injuries may result if a patient is not provided with a tracheal tube to guide their breathing or the equipment itself happens to be defective.
Surgery Errors
A mistake in the operating room might include negligence during the procedure or in the administration of post-operative care. Problems during surgery include accidentally operating on the wrong area, leaving tools inside the body, or puncturing an internal organ with an instrument. A perfect procedure may lead to serious infection or other complications if the nursing staff neglect to provide sufficient care as a patient is in recovery.
How to Receive Help with Your Case
Not all complications and injuries are caused by a human error, so the rules of medical malpractice cases are quite complex. Our experienced attorneys at Lundy Law can help you understand the laws in your state and provide assistance as needed. Pursue your claim today by calling our office at 800-Lundylaw to find out the best course of action.
