Healthcare professionals do not always meet the expected standard of care. When this happens, their patients suffer. Their patients can be hurt, injured, and even killed by neglecting to provide adequate care.

Medical malpractice can happen in nearly any healthcare setting, but certain errors are much more common than others.

Delayed Diagnosis or Misdiagnosis Medical Malpractice Claims

When a healthcare professional incorrectly diagnoses or does not promptly diagnose a patient's health issue, it can lead to disastrous consequences. By delaying or making a wrong diagnosis, problems can become more severe, making them more challenging or even impossible to treat. They can cause serious health problems and lead to death in extreme situations.

A misdiagnosis or a delayed diagnosis may happen for a variety of reasons:

  • Misinterpretation of test results
  • Failure on the part of the medical professional to order adequate testing
  • Inexperience and deficiency in medical understanding

Those who have suffered due to being misdiagnosed or having their diagnoses delayed could be due compensation through a medical malpractice claim.

Birth Injuries Lead to Medical Malpractice Claims

When mother and child are not properly monitored and provided with appropriate care during labor and delivery, injuries to the child can occur. Babies can be left with lifelong suffering and even death. The parents may pursue a medical malpractice claim to help pay for the care that their child will need due to the negligence surrounding their birth that caused their injury.

Common birth injuries include:

  • Erb's palsy
  • Brachial plexus injuries
  • Shoulder dystocia
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Hypoxia
  • Brain damage
  • Bell's palsy
  • Death

Children who suffer birth injuries may often experience cognitive impairments, developmental delays, and a host of possible physical disabilities. Handling an unexpected birth injury that turns out to be a lifelong undertaking is not an inexpensive process. Medical malpractice benefits could ease the financial burden.

Surgical Errors May Be Cause for Medical Malpractice Claims

Patients can suffer a variety of surgical errors. Surgical errors can be difficult or even impossible to recover from fully. They happen for various reasons, such as distracted doctors, inattentiveness, fatigued staff, communication breakdowns, lack of training, and rushed procedures.

Common surgical errors include:

  • Surgeons performing the wrong procedure
  • Surgery performed on the wrong body part
  • Leaving instruments inside the patient
  • Anesthesia errors
  • Operating on the wrong patient
  • Unnecessary surgeries
  • Surgeries that were inappropriate for the patient
  • Unintentionally nicking or cutting organs

Patients experiencing surgical errors may find it difficult to recover. They are entitled to recover compensation in a medical malpractice claim.

Prescription and Medication Errors

If a medical professional prescribes the wrong medicine or an inappropriate dose or does not consider contraindications of other medications the patient is taking, the patient's health can be sorely jeopardized. It is the physician or other prescribing provider's responsibility to gather information about allergies and other pertinent information.

When drug interactions, overdoses, or worsening of conditions due to the wrong dosage, the errors made can be dangerous and even fatal for the patient. If you have experienced a medication error, you may be entitled to compensation.

Negligence Where Informed Consent is Required Leads to Medical Malpractice Claims

When a medical procedure takes place, the healthcare providers involved are required to obtain informed consent. This means that the patient understands the surgery's risks and benefits. If a procedure is performed without their consent, this can lead to a medical malpractice suit.

Contact Gold & Gold, P.A. Today

If you or a loved one has been the victim of medical malpractice, contact Gold & Gold, P.A. today. They have invaluable experience dealing with medical malpractice cases and are available for a free consultation. Reach out today to see how we can help you.