Types of Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice is a very serious situation. These incidents are very life changing in that they may lead to death or life-altering catastrophic injuries. The damages are usually everlasting. For this reason, it is important not to take medical malpractice cases lightly.
Medical malpractice incidents occur when a medical professional somehow fails to adhere to their duty of care by neglecting the patient in a fashion that causes a type of harm that is not a reasonable part of the treatment. When this occurs, the entire situation can be a tragedy, for every involved party. However, there is a possibility that the injured party and/or their family may be entitled to compensation for their damages or loss.
In the event that you know an individual that was injured or worse case, killed, in a medical malpractice incident, please be sure to contact a skilled personal injury attorney to assist with your understanding of what you may be legally entitled to. There are also different types of medical malpractice and it is best to understand what constitutes a medical malpractice lawsuit so when you speak with an attorney you understand that malpractice occurred.
There are different ways a medical malpractice incident can occur, which most commonly include:
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Misdiagnosis: These are very common medical malpractices. A medical professional may treat a patient and diagnose them for the wrong injury or illness. Or, perhaps a doctor incorrectly determines that a patient does not have any type of medical condition, but the doctor fails to recognize a debilitating problem that is then left untreated. Imagine being told you or your loved one did not have certain illnesses, and they later learn they did. Or they receive treatment for the wrong ailment. When these missed diagnoses cause a disease or condition to be untreated, and the disease or condition grows significantly worse as a result, the doctor or medical provider who made the incorrect diagnosis might be liable for medical malpractice.
Delayed Diagnosis: This is quite similar to misdiagnosis; however, it comes later than a misdiagnosis which means the individual may not receive treatment for a while due to their lack of awareness of a disease. The diagnosis may come late and therefore prolong treatment. Or, perhaps the correct diagnosis comes too late for meaningful treatment to be given.
Failure to Treat: A patient and a medical professional may be well aware of a diagnosis and simply not treat the patient. The patient may more than likely be released from the medical professional’s care and the patient’s conditions worsens.
Lack of Informed Consent: Patients who undergo medical treatment are entitled to make informed healthcare decisions about medical treatment that is offered to them. If a medical provider gives a treatment but does not advise the patient of the adverse consequences and one of those consequences occurs, the patient may have a claim for lack of informed consent.
Surgical Errors: These are self-explanatory. When a surgery is not performed according to the standards of care governing that area of medicine and causes injury or harm to the patient, there may be an actionable medical malpractice claim. Examples of this can include leaving tools or foreign objects inside the patient’s body after a surgery, overdosing a patient on anesthesia or other medication, removing or conducting surgery on the incorrect body part, and many other things.
Medication Errors: Medication errors can occur when doctors prescribe the incorrect medication or wrong dosage. They can also occur in busy hospitals and pharmacies when the incorrect medication or dosage is administered to patients. This can result in devastating cases of death or irreparable injury when a patient is given exponentially more medication than is permitted, they are given the incorrect medication, or they are given medications that, when given together, create a toxic and damaging mixture that causes significant damage to the patient.
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Sexual Assault: Sometimes doctors and other healthcare providers go far out-of-bounds and commit the unthinkable. There are unfortunately many reported cases of sexual assault and abuse committed by physicians, nurses, therapists, and other medical providers. This can even extend beyond traditional medical facilities to include massage parlors like Massage Envy and other places of therapy. This criminal conduct is never acceptable under any circumstances and should be met with swift and devastating legal actions.
Medical malpractice can occur under a variety of situations. But these are the most typical scenarios where it occurs and a breach of the standard of care results.
One thing that is incredibly important to understand about medical malpractice claims: merely because you do not have a good result from your medical treatment does not mean that you have an actionable medical malpractice claim. It is nevertheless worth investigating to determine if you do have a medical malpractice claim if you have suffered serious consequences from medical care.
There are many different things that can cause harm, injury, or death to a patient and when a medical professional fails to do their part properly. This can set a family member and individual back a great deal. Speak with a skilled and experienced medical malpractice attorney from MartinWren, P.C. who has knowledge of the intricacies of medical malpractice. The right attorney will gather the details of your case and help you fight for the compensation you deserve.
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