When an individual suspects that they have been the victim of a medical error, the first thing they ask is whether or not it qualifies as medical malpractice. This is a broad term that encompasses a wide range of accidents and medical errors.
It can be difficult to tell if an illness, injury, or medical condition qualifies as medical malpractice at first. Generally speaking, there are three major types of malpractice cases. One form of malpractice occurs when your condition would have been healthier if the doctor had begun treating you earlier. Here are some others:
- Incorrect Medication –
A drug mistake can have significant consequences, resulting in further complications, loss of consciousness, hospitalization, and even death. Medication errors happen much more often than you might expect. A doctor may prescribe the wrong medication or the wrong dose of medication.
For example, you may be taking the wrong drug as a result of a misdiagnosis. In addition, if a nurse administers the wrong dosage or combination of drugs to a patient receiving drip, injection, or oral medications, it may result in adverse side effects.
Some of the most common drug mistakes include:
- Choosing the incorrect medication
- Writing a prescription that is either incorrect or illegible
- The medication was dispensed improperly
- Neglecting to keep track of the patient’s progress on the new drug
- Birth Injury –
Birth injury is a common occurrence in malpractice cases. This is because both the mother and the baby are in danger during the birth. Forceps and vacuum delivery, as well as C-section delivery, are all examples of birth accidents. Birth injuries can cause lifelong conditions for the infant, such as cerebral palsy and injury to the mother, and infertility. As a result, if you’re expecting a child, it is critical to be cautious of medical errors. Here are some of the most common issues associated with childbirth negligence:
- Errors in surgery during a C-section
- Forceps were used incorrectly
- Placental abruption or other defects in the placenta
- Babies were born too soon
- Vaginal bleeding that is excessive or unexplained
- Preeclampsia
- Anesthesia administration was done incorrectly
- During labor, the baby sustains a nerve injury or develops shoulder dystocia
- The baby is deprived of oxygen
- Hemorrhaging in the mother during pregnancy or childbirth
- Long labors that end up injuring the baby or the mother
- Gestational diabetes of the mother
These are only a few of the issues that can arise during pregnancy and delivery due to medical negligence.
- Diagnostic Errors –
According to recent research, the most common form of medical error is misdiagnosis. A diagnosis mistake occurs when a doctor ignores symptoms and fails to diagnose a disease or when a doctor misinterprets symptoms and diagnoses the condition incorrectly. Strokes, heart attacks, and cancer are only a few of the easily misdiagnosed diseases that can be deadly. The following are the most frequently misdiagnosed diseases:
- Stroke
- Cancer
- Heart Attack
- Thyroid Conditions
- Pulmonary embolism
- Celiac Disease
- Lyme Disease
Misdiagnosis in this situation is frequently due to symptoms presenting themselves in odd ways that a doctor would not consider unless they were specifically looking for them. It would be considered incompetence if a doctor failed to identify anything that a reasonably competent and skilled health care professional, with a similar background and in the same medical community, would have, under the circumstances, be able to detect.
Diagnostic errors may cause significant damage to patients, as they can result in a lack of care, treatment delays, or even death. Moreover, missed diagnoses and incorrect treatment often results in undue financial burdens. Contact a Personal Injury Attorney because they have in-depth knowledge of tort law, eligibility criteria, and other details.
Do You Need To File A Lawsuit?
You should be able to say whether you have a claim on your hands now that you have learned about the most common types of malpractice cases. If you have lost a loved one due to a missed diagnosis or some other type of medical malpractice, you should consider filing a wrongful death lawsuit.
A successful lawsuit will be based on a theory of negligence. It is not enough for a doctor to have made a mistake. The care provider must have fallen short of the required standard of care. Having said that, there are times when malpractice is obvious. That is why it is a good idea to consult with a lawyer about your situation.
An expert medical witness is sometimes needed to win a successful malpractice case. A professional medical witness must interpret the extent of the injuries to the court effectively, and an experienced medical witness is better prepared to demonstrate how negligence contributed to injuries.
Our Malpractice Lawyers In Philadelphia understand how frustrating it can be when an insurance provider, a medical practitioner, or another entity refuses to take responsibility for careless or irresponsible conduct. You should rest assured that there are talented and skilled attorneys ready to assist you.