Top 5 Medical Malpractice Claims
No one wants to think about the possibility of being a victim of medical malpractice, but the fact is that it happens often. Approximately 440,000 people are affected by medical malpractice each year in the United States. If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of mistreatment by a doctor or other healthcare professional, you may be entitled to compensation. Here are the five most common medical malpractice claims:
1. Anesthesia Errors
Anesthesia errors are one of the most serious types of medical malpractice claims. They can cause serious, permanent injuries or even death. If you or a loved one was harmed by an anesthesia error, you may be entitled to compensation for your damages.
Anesthesia errors occur in various ways. For example, the wrong medication may be given, the wrong dosage or the anesthesia may be improperly administered. In some cases, patients have suffered brain damage or even died as a result of anesthesia errors.
If you know a victim of an anesthesia error, contact an experienced medical malpractice attorney. An attorney can help you investigate your claim and gather evidence to support your case. Medical malpractice lawyers like The Tinker Law Firm PLLC can help represent your claim.
2. Misdiagnosis or Delayed Diagnosis
Misdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis are the most common grounds for medical malpractice claims. Both involve a failure on the part of the physician to correctly identify a patient’s condition, leading to severe consequences. In the case of misdiagnosis, the physician may fail to detect a condition properly or may incorrectly identify the cause of the patient’s symptoms. This results in the patient receiving ineffective treatment or, in some cases, no treatment.
Delayed diagnosis occurs when a physician fails to diagnose a condition timely, often because they are not considering all potential causes or are not ordering appropriate tests. This causes a delay in treatment and leads to further complications.
3. Surgical Errors
When it comes to surgeries, there is always the potential for error. Surgeons can make mistakes such as operating on the wrong body part, leaving surgical instruments inside the patient, or performing the incorrect procedure. These errors can have serious consequences, including pain, disability, and even death.
4. Birth Injuries
Medical errors during the childbirth process can result in severe injuries to both the mother and child. Some of the most common birth injuries include cerebral palsy, Erb’s palsy, and shoulder dystocia. These injuries can cause lifelong complications and may require extensive medical care.
5. Medication Errors
Medication errors are too common in today’s healthcare system. They can occur when a physician prescribes the wrong medication, gives the wrong dosage, or fails to monitor a patient’s reaction to the medication properly. Medication errors can also occur when pharmacists dispense the wrong medication or fail to label a medication properly.
While these claims may be familiar, that doesn’t mean they are any less severe. If you have been injured due to medical malpractice, it is essential to speak with an attorney to help you get the compensation you deserve.
Image on Unsplash
