Common Types of Medical Malpractice Cases
Medical malpractice occurs when medical professionals deviate from the standard of care, causing injury or harm to patients. If you believe you or a loved one has suffered harm due to medical negligence, it is important to contact a medical malpractice attorney for a case evaluation without delay. You may have rights to recovery for the damages you or your loved one has suffered, and these rights are subject to certain time limitations.
Apart from contacting an attorney, understanding the different types of medical malpractice cases can help determine whether you have a valid malpractice claim. Below, we look at some of the most common and serious types of medical malpractice seen in Florida and throughout the country.
- Diagnostic Errors
According to research, approximately 795,000 Americans die or are permanently disabled annually due to diagnostic errors. There are three main types of diagnostic errors;
- Misdiagnosis: When a patient is diagnosed with a different condition than what they actually have, leading to the postponement of the appropriate care and/or the patient receiving unnecessary treatment.
- Missed diagnosis: When a patient’s condition is not recognized, leading to harm that could have been avoided with timely detection and treatment.
- Delayed diagnosis: When a condition is not diagnosed on time, delaying appropriate treatment.
- Surgical Errors
All the medical professionals that come in contact with a patient have the duty to act within the standard of care. Unfortunately, surgical errors happen all too often, and can have devastating consequences. Common examples of surgical errors that occur due to negligence include;
- Operating on the wrong body part
- Performing the wrong procedure
- Leaving medical devices or other foreign objects inside the patient
- Inadvertently damaging organs, nerves, or tissues
- Providing inadequate aftercare
- Failure to Treat
Sometimes, a medical professional makes the correct diagnosis but fails to treat it appropriately. This is known as “failure to treat.” It can include;
- Failing to refer a patient to a necessary specialist
- Discharging a patient too soon
- Not providing the appropriate follow-up care
- Medication Errors
Medication errors are another common form of medical malpractice cases. Examples include;
- Prescribing the wrong drug or dosage
- Administering the wrong drugs or dosage
- Mislabeling medication
- Failing to consider harmful drug interactions
- Giving medication to the wrong patient
- Birth-Related Malpractice
Medical malpractice claims against OB/GYNs and other healthcare professionals involved in the birth process are another category of medical negligence claim. These cases are filed due to various reasons, including;
- Failure to monitor fetal distress
- Provision of inadequate prenatal care
- Mismanagement of high-risk pregnancies
- Improper use of delivery tools such as forceps or vacuum extractors
- Delayed C-section
- Anesthesia errors
- Performing an unnecessary C-section
Why Should You Speak to a Medical Malpractice Lawyer?
If you believe you or someone you love has been harmed by medical malpractice, an attorney can help. A skilled medical malpractice lawyer can assess your case, collect evidence, consult with medical experts, and guide you through the complex legal process. Having an attorney significantly increases your chances of recovering fair compensation for medical expenses, lost income, and other damages.
Contact a Skilled Tampa Medical Malpractice Attorney
Contact an experienced Tampa medical malpractice lawyer at Gunn Law Group P.A. at 813-228-7070 or online to schedule a consultation and discuss your case.
Source:
hopkinsmedicine.org/news/newsroom/news-releases/2023/07/report-highlights-public-health-impact-of-serious-harms-from-diagnostic-error-in-us#:~:text=an%20estimated%20795%2C000%20Americans%20die%20or%20are%20permanently%20disabled%20by%20diagnostic%20error%20each%20year%2C%20confirming%20the%20pressing%20nature%20of%20the%20public%20health%20problem.%E2%80%AF%C2%A0
