What Are The Most Common Types Of Medical Malpractice?

If you or a loved one has been injured due to medical negligence, you may be wondering what types of medical malpractice claims are the most common. Medical malpractice is defined as any action or inaction by a healthcare provider that falls below accepted standards of care, resulting in harm to the patient.

Consider hiring a knowledgeable lawyer if you or your loved one has been a victim of medical malpractice. Our Cobb County personal injury lawyers at Hawkins Spizman Trial Lawyers can help you gather the necessary evidence to prove that medical malpractice occurred and hold negligent healthcare providers accountable for your damages.

Common Types of Medical Malpractice

Let’s take a look at some of the most common types of medical malpractice:

Misdiagnosis/Delayed Diagnosis

Misdiagnosis occurs when a doctor fails to diagnose an illness or injury correctly. Delayed diagnosis involves diagnosing an illness or injury too late for it to be effectively treated. Both misdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis can lead to serious health problems down the line because the patient has not received the appropriate treatment in time.

Fact: According to The Johns Hopkins University, between 80,000 and 160,000 patients suffer significant permanent injury or death due to diagnostic errors in the United States every year.

Medication Errors

Medication errors occur when a doctor prescribes the wrong medication or wrong dosage amount, resulting in serious side effects that may have long-term consequences for the patient’s health and well-being. Patients must understand what medications they are taking and why they are taking them in order to avoid this type of error occurring.

Anesthesia Errors

Anesthesia errors occur when a doctor administers too much or too little anesthesia during a surgical procedure, resulting in either short-term physical pain and emotional distress or death. In some cases, these errors can also lead to permanent nerve damage. It is important for doctors to carefully monitor their patients during anesthesia procedures in order to reduce the risk of this type of error occurring.

Surgery Errors

Surgery errors occur when a doctor makes an error during surgery that results in further injury or death of the patient. This could include operating on the wrong part of the body or leaving instruments inside the body after surgery has been completed. Doctors must follow all safety protocols during surgery in order to ensure that these types of mistakes do not occur.

Hospital Errors

Hospital errors involve any mistakes made by hospital staff that result in further harm or death for the patient, including failure to monitor vital signs properly; failure to properly sanitize equipment; and failure to provide timely care and attention when needed. It is critical for hospitals to ensure that all staff members are adequately trained and monitored in order to reduce these types of mistakes from occurring within their facility.

Discuss Your Medical Malpractice Case with a Lawyer

If you are considering filing a medical malpractice claim, you might want to consult with our lawyers at Hawkins Spizman Trial Lawyers to discuss how to best proceed with your claim in your specific case. Our lawyers represent patients who become victims of medical malpractice and their families in Cobb County, Gwinnett County, Fulton County, and other parts of Georgia, including Atlanta, Dunwoody, Sandy Springs, Alpharetta, and Johns Creek. Contact our office today to schedule a free case review. Call 770-685-6400.

Source:

hopkinsmedicine.org/news/media/releases/diagnostic_errors_more_common_costly_and_harmful_than_treatment_mistakes