Understanding Common Forms of Medical Malpractice
In medical treatment, complications and adverse outcomes are always possible. However, when healthcare professionals fail to abide by the applicable standard of care, resulting in injury, illness, or death, it may constitute medical malpractice. Such incidents can occur at nearly any stage of treatment, from initial consultations to complex surgeries. It can be challenging to determine which errors are due to malpractice. Below are some of the most frequent doctor mistakes that may indicate medical malpractice:
Birth Injuries
Birth injuries can involve brain damage, such as cerebral palsy, fractures, or nerve injuries like Erb’s or brachial plexus palsy. While these injuries can sometimes occur naturally during birth, they should still be closely examined to assess if negligence or malpractice was involved. Your attorney can help you evaluate if malpractice occurred during childbirth by asking questions such as:
- Were potential birth complications overlooked that should have been identified?
- Were forceps or a vacuum extractor used properly?
- Were signs of fetal distress addressed adequately?
- Was a C-section performed when necessary and appropriate?
- Were there any complications or issues identified during the pregnancy and prior to labor?
Explore more about birth injuries.
Medication Mistakes
Medication errors are one of the most common reasons for medical malpractice claims. These errors can happen under various circumstances, such as:
- A failure to identify harmful drug interactions.
- Administering the wrong medication or dosage.
- Incorrect labeling or identification of drugs.
- Malfunctioning dosing equipment.
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Misdiagnosis
Diagnosing a patient correctly is a crucial responsibility of any doctor. Physicians are trained in the differential diagnosis method, which involves considering all reasonably possible potential causes of a patient’s symptoms and systematically eliminating them, beginning with the most severe. Misdiagnoses often happen when doctors fail to consider all options and make a premature judgment, leading to serious complications or even death. It is a frequent temptation for medical providers to just to the most common diagnosis that might be causing a patient’s symptoms, before considering and ruling out the more dangerous potential explanations. The consequences of this thought process can be devastating.
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Surgical Errors
Surgery carries inherent risks, even without the added concern of surgical mistakes. These errors can have devastating consequences for the victim, whether physical, financial, or emotional, and can result in long-term or permanent harm. Unfortunately, many surgical mistakes are found to have been preventable. Here are some examples of surgical errors that may point to medical malpractice:
- Conducting unnecessary surgeries.
- Failing to perform a necessary surgery in a timely manner.
- Confusion of anatomical structures.
- Cutting corners during the initial parts of the surgery while performing the incision and/or obtaining exposure of the operative field.
- Failing to detect or address a surgical complication.
- Leaving a foreign object, like a sponge or tool, inside the patient’s body.
- Operating on the wrong patient or the wrong body part.
Explore more about surgical errors.
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These examples represent just a few types of medical malpractice, but hospitals or doctors may fail to meet the required standard of care at any stage of treatment. If you’ve experienced harm due to medical care, consult with an expert malpractice attorney at CHH to determine whether you may be a victim of malpractice.
