What Are The Most Common Medical Malpractice Claims?

You may be shocked to find out that medical malpractice is responsible for a lot of deaths in the US. Unfortunately, this goes to show just how common it is.

Any deviation from healthcare standards or even a split-second of negligence from a medical professional could result in medical malpractice happening, regardless of what is being done. In these situations, the liability depends on the individual that is responsible for the error. 

If you were a victim of medical malpractice, you may be able to make a claim. If this is the case, and according to Augusta personal injury lawyer Chris Hudson, your lawyer will take on your claim and fight in your corner to ensure you receive compensation.

Medication Errors

Nearly two-thirds of the American population takes at least one type of medication at any given time. As a result, prescription drugs are a large contributor to total health expenditure and one of the most prominent liability causes in any healthcare setting. 

Medication errors can happen at any stage of the process. In many situations, this may occur when the practitioner orders the medication or if they provide a patient with the incorrect dosage. Such errors will typically occur in a clinic or office setting.

When medical malpractice occurs in these circumstances, a patient will usually have been given two or more drugs that work to cause a harmful reaction in their body. The types of medication involved in one of these claims are usually in the following list:

• Cardiovascular drugs
• Steroids
• Opioids
• Antibiotics 
• Psychotropic drugs

Medical Misdiagnosis 

Medical misdiagnosis occurs when a medical professional diagnoses something incorrectly or fails to provide a patient with a diagnosis. This could cause pain and suffering in the patient’s life and could even be the difference between life and death in certain situations!

Cancer, meningitis, and diabetes are three of the most commonly misdiagnosed conditions, largely because the symptoms of each are pretty difficult to identify at times. Misdiagnosis of these conditions could be devastating and may have extreme consequences.

If this is something that has happened to you then you may rightfully be entitled to some compensation. 

Surgical Negligence

Surgical errors are another common cause of malpractice claims. This type of medical malpractice happens when healthcare providers or surgeons make errors during an operation which then go on to worsen your condition or cause additional injuries. 

Whether elective or emergency surgery, there are many medical professionals in an operating room at any given time who are tasked with keeping you away from harm. The same applies to outpatient procedures like a biopsy.

Some of the more popular types of surgical negligence include the following:

• Leaving foreign objects in a patient’s body (including gauze or tools)
• Infections caused by poor hygiene
• Not communicating all potential risks for a certain procedure to a patient
• Disfigurement or scarring by cosmetic surgery
• Nerve damage
• Organ injuries
• Reactions to anaesthesia 
• Operating on the wrong body part

Childbirth Injuries

Birthing a child is a difficult and stressful enough time for both mother and child. Yet no matter how long or how difficult the delivery may be, there are zero excuses for medical malpractice to occur.

If a medical professional makes mistakes before, during, or even after delivery, it could cause irreparable birth injuries that might impact the child for the rest of their life. The professional in charge of guiding a patient through their pregnancy and delivery might be liable for the following:

• Misdiagnosed miscarriage
• Infant injury obtained during or after birth
• Umbilical cord wrapped around the baby’s neck, mouth, or nose
• Injury to the mother after birth
• Failure to perform a C-section when needed
• Substandard prenatal care
• Stillbirth and neonatal negligence
• Failed sterilization

Failure To Treat

A failure to treat a patient violates all standards of care that a medical professional accepts when they initially take on a patient, resulting in a medical malpractice claim.

In some cases, the failure to treat a patient courtesy of a medical professional may also be caused by caring for a higher number of patients than they can realistically handle. However, it is usually caused by negligent behavior, such as:

• Releasing a patient too soon from the hospital
• Not providing follow-up care instructions
• Failure to order appropriate medical tests

Summary

Medical malpractice occurs far more frequently than you might expect. Unfortunately, the long-lasting effects of any negligent action in a medical setting could be completely life-changing. This is when medical malpractice claims can be made.