Top Causes of Medical Malpractice
We expect that doctors, nurses and other medical staff will take care of us when we are sick or injured. However, the truth is that nobody’s perfect and doctors—no matter how experienced—still make mistakes from time to time. While most of these mistakes are minor and cause no lasting harm, many cause serious, debilitating injuries and even result in death.
This is called medical malpractice and it is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Every year, more than 250,000 people in this country die from surgical errors and other forms of medical negligence.
While many people equate medical malpractice to surgical errors, a medical professional can be negligent in a variety of ways. Here are some of the most common types of lawsuits by patients.
Misdiagnosis
An incorrect or delayed diagnosis is the most common type of medical mistake. This is common because so many diseases have vague symptoms or the symptoms mimic a more common medical condition. The doctor tries to treat the symptoms and makes the situation worse. When the diagnosis is wrong, treatment gets delayed or is unnecessary and the patient often ends up sicker. Because they didn’t get the treatment they needed, patients often die from misdiagnosis.
Medication Errors
Errors when prescribing medication are also deadly, killing thousands of Americans every year. There are many mistakes that can be made when it comes to prescriptions. The doctor or pharmacist could be sued for prescribing or filling the wrong dose or even the wrong medication altogether. There could be an issue with the administration. There could be adverse side effects if the doctor does not discuss possible drug-drug reactions with the patient.
Childbirth
When you think of women dying during childbirth, you may think the women live in third world countries. However, death during childbirth still happens even in developed countries such as the United States. There are also many situations in which the baby becomes seriously injured or dies. However, many fatalities are due to unforeseen circumstances and are not always attributed to medical negligence. It depends on the situation. Did the mother receive proper prenatal care? Was the baby injured when doctors used a vacuum or forceps? Did the doctor wait too long and refuse to do a C-section?
Anesthesia
A lot can go wrong when a person is given anesthesia. While most people have no complications, even the smallest miscalculation in anesthesia can be deadly. Anesthesiologists have to ensure to use working equipment and monitor vital signs at all times. They also need to communicate with the patient ahead of time to check for previous complications and give proper instructions before the day of the operation.
Contact a New Jersey Personal Injury Lawyer Today
Medical malpractice is very common in the United States. People are injured or killed by negligent doctors every day.
Protect your legal rights with help from the Morristown medical malpractice attorneys at the Law Offices of Michael P. Burakoff. He has the experience you need for a successful medical malpractice case. Schedule a consultation today by calling (973) 455-1567 or filling out the online form.
Resource:
patch.com/california/san-diego/10-medical-malpractice-statistics-you-should-know
