Medical errors due to negligence happen more than most people might think. While they might be a one-time mistake for a medical professional, the impacts can permanently impact the lives of their patients. If you’ve been the victim of malpractice, then you have the right to compensation. Here are the most common types of medical malpractice to be aware of.
Misdiagnosis
Failing to diagnose the correct illness is perhaps the most common form of medical malpractice. This occurs in one of two scenarios. First, the doctor could diagnose a patient with an illness they do not have. Second, the doctor could tell the patient there is no discernable illness despite there being one.
Either way, it prevents you from getting the care you need. Not all misdiagnoses count as malpractice, however. Your attorney must prove than any other doctor would have been able to properly diagnose your illness. You must also be harmed as a result.
Failure to Treat
When a doctor makes the correct diagnosis but does not adequately treat a patient, that counts as a failure to treat malpractice. This often occurs when doctors are treating too many patients at a time, either from shortage of staff or placing profits over safety.
Doctors may release a patient too soon, neglect to refer someone to a specialist when needed, or fail to provide the proper follow-up care. In any situation, patients may find their sickness returning or suffer from continual symptoms.
Surgical Errors
There’s a long list of surgical errors that constitute as malpractice. These instances can permanently impact someone’s life, and you have the right to seek compensation even after signing a consent form. Medical malpractice attorneys across the country have won thousands of cases even when patient consent forms detail every risk of the operation. Malpractice covers:
- Performing the wrong procedure
- Performing unnecessary surgery
- Using non-sterile instruments
- Damaging your tissues, nerves, or organs
- Leaving instruments inside a patient
- Inadequate after surgery care
- Administering the wrong amount of anesthesia
Product Liability
Your doctor isn’t the only one who can be held responsible in a malpractice lawsuit. If a medical device caused your injuries, then the company that created it can be sued. Faulty devices are just as common as mishaps in patient care, leading to everything from blood clots to severe injury and death.
The case must be made that the manufacturer knew about the defect or should have known, which lawyers have become increasingly skilled at in the past decade. Usually, these cases become class action lawsuits because the damages are unknown until they effect a large number of individuals.
Seeking Help
You have the right to compensation when medical malpractice takes place. Don’t let the mistakes of a doctor or device manufacturer continue to make a negative impact on your life. You can fight for additional medical costs, mental anguish, rehabilitation and more with the right lawyer by your side. If you or someone you know is the victim of malpractice, don’t hesitate. The sooner you get help, the sooner you can get your life back on track.