When you go into a doctor’s office or hospital for treatment for an injury or illness, you expect to come out feeling better. While most medical professionals do their best to provide their patients with adequate care, mistakes can still happen. Thousands of people suffer injuries and deaths every year because of medical errors. The following are some of the most common types of medical malpractice that the hospital accident lawyers Charlottesville, Virginia from MartinWren, P.C. see.
Anesthesia Errors
Anesthesia errors are one of the most dangerous medical mistakes and often result in a patient’s death. The Charlottesville VA hospital accident lawyers from MartinWren, P.C. have handled many malpractice cases that were a result of anesthesia errors. Anesthesia is a powerful drug and must be administered correctly to avoid any issues. Even a small mistake can lead to brain damage or death. Anesthesiologists can commit medical malpractice if they administer too much anesthesia, fail to look at a patient’s medical history for complications or fail to monitor the patient’s vital signs.
Misdiagnosis
A large percentage of medical malpractice result from wrong diagnoses. If a doctor diagnoses a patient with the wrong condition, the patient can miss out on treatment opportunities. For example, if a patient has cancer and the doctor diagnoses them with another condition, the cancer can progress. Additionally, a misdiagnosis can result in a patient getting the wrong treatments, which can also lead to harm.
Surgery Errors
Medical mistakes can also happen in the operating room. For example, there may be mix-ups in medical paperwork that causes the surgeon to operate on the wrong body part. Other surgical errors include leaving a foreign object inside a patient, performing the wrong procedure and not properly cleaning surgical equipment. Additionally, the surgical team may be considered negligent if they fail to give the patient proper instruction on postoperative recovery needs.
Medication Errors
Medication errors can also lead to malpractice lawsuits. For instance, a doctor may prescribe the wrong medication to a patient, resulting in harmful side effects. A doctor could also give the improper dosage or fail to inform the patient about the side effects of the medication.
Birth Injuries
An infant can suffer injuries during the labor and delivery process if the medical staff are negligent. For example, if a doctor fails to plan for high-risk deliveries, incorrectly uses delivery instruments or fails to diagnoses maternal medical conditions, injuries are more likely to occur. Common types of birth injuries include cerebral palsy, paralysis, fractured bones and traumatic brain injuries.
Speaking to Charlottesville VA Hospital Accident Lawyers
If you’re the victim of malpractice, you likely feel overwhelmed and unsure of what to do. Your first step is scheduling a consultation with a qualified medical malpractice attorney. An attorney can thoroughly assess your case and advise you the best way to proceed. If your medical malpractice attorney believes you have a strong case, he or she can help you gather evidence, identify key witnesses, and negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf.
Schedule a free consultation with one of our hospital accident lawyers Charlottesville VA clients recommend to discuss your case in further detail.