COMMON TYPES OF MEDICAL MALPRACTICE

A broad variation of situations can lead to medical malpractice, from a doctor forgetting to remove a surgical instrument in a patient’s stomach to a physician’s absentminded instructions on a drug that could result in heart failure.

Most medical malpractice claims fall in the following tiers:

Misdiagnosis: The two, misdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis account for a vast majority of medical malpractice claims. Misdiagnosis cases are common when cancer is missed, or when a disease or chronic condition is misdiagnosed as a less severe one, and a patient’s condition declines in the meantime. If the patient would have received the proper care, serious harm or death would have been prevented.

Failure to treat: This occurs when a doctor reaches the correct diagnosis but fails to deal with the condition according to standard care. These scenarios may seem fluky; however, are often a result of overworked and understaffed hospitals pushing patients through too quickly. In a similar fashion, it may also be malpractice if the doctor chooses the correct treatment but administers it improperly.

Surgical Errors: There are two leading causes associated with surgical errors: anesthesia errors and surgical mistakes. One and the other can cause permanent injury or death. Brain damage is a direct correlation related to anesthesia errors. Even the most minuscule oversight made by an anesthesiologist can cause permanent injury, brain damage, or even death.

A physician is required to assess the patient correctly before anesthesia is administered. The physician is required to note the individual characteristics and conditions.

They will also take the following information:

• patient’s age
• medical condition
• past reactions
• type of surgery
• medication into account

Any negligence during the original assessment or while the patient goes under can end with mortifying results. Patients hold high expectations for the performance of surgeons, and foresee receiving flawless results. Surgical errors can easily contrast between a full recovery and a life accompanied by physical anguish.

Prescription Drug Errors: Prescription Drug Errors happen if the doctor either writes an improper dosage on the prescription, or if the nurse administers the wrong amount, for example, if a drug that is known to cause birth defects is prescribed for a pregnant woman, or if a patient is prescribed two medications that have adverse synergistic effects. The treating doctor has performed below standard care.

Childbirth Injuries: Childbirth injuries are the most tragic because they can result in a lifetime of pain and grief.

These injuries typically constitute the following:

• brain injuries
• fractured bones
• damage to the nerves.