While a study published in the BMJ stated medical errors were the third leading cause of death in Americans – after heart disease and cancer – experts later debunked the study results, saying the data extrapolation was problematic. That said, one in three medical providers is sued for medical malpractice, and avoidable errors do occur in 3%-15% of medical interventions.
If you or a loved one has experienced medical malpractice, contact a lawyer specializing in medical malpractice cases as soon as possible.
Penny Hendy, an experienced medical malpractice attorney in Louisville, KY, shares five of the most common types of medical malpractice.
1 . Misdiagnosis or Delayed Diagnosis is The Most Common Medical Malpractice Claim
One of the most frequent medical malpractice allegations stems from a doctor’s failure to accurately diagnose a patient’s condition, and around 795k people are misdiagnosed each year. A wrong diagnosis can lead to improper treatment, delayed treatment, or no treatment at all, resulting in preventable injury or harm. For example, failing to diagnose an aggressive cancer in its early stages could allow the disease to spread and lower the patient’s chance of survival.
Doctors are expected to order the appropriate diagnostic tests and interpret the results correctly. Misinterpreting test results or overlooking abnormal findings can be considered medical malpractice.
2. Medication Errors Can Account For Many Medical Malpractice Claims
Mistakes involving medication, such as incorrect prescriptions, dosages, drug interactions, and administration, account for many medical malpractice claims. The US Food and Drug Administration reports more than 100,000 medication errors per year.
Prescribing a patient the wrong medication, incorrect strength, or erroneous dosage leading to injury or overdose constitutes negligence. Life-threatening drug interactions and allergic reactions due to inadequate monitoring of a patient’s medication regimen also fall under this category. Even giving a patient the correct drug but through the wrong route of administration (e.g. oral instead of intravenous) can result in devastating consequences for the patient.
3. Surgical Errors Frequently Lead to Medical Malpractice Lawsuits
Botched operations such as surgery on the wrong body part or patient or negligent performance of the surgery are surgical errors that frequently lead to medical malpractice suits. In one tragic case, a 17-year-old was given the wrong heart and lungs during transplant surgery. Her body rejected them, and she subsequently died from complications.
Surgeons must exhaust all possible precautions before and during surgery to avoid damaging blood vessels, nerves, organs, or tissue. Preventable post-surgical infections also point to substandard sterilization practices. Any surgical mishap that causes harm, such as severe blood loss, organ damage, or paralysis, can be grounds for medical malpractice.
4. Anesthesia Errors Can Also Lead to a Medical Malpractice Claim
Like surgical errors, anesthesia mistakes can rapidly endanger a patient’s life. These include administering the wrong type of anesthesia, giving too much (overdose) or too little (patient awakens during surgery) anesthesia, failing to monitor the patient’s vital signs properly, not taking into account risk factors like drug interactions, or failing to manage the patient’s airway resulting in brain damage or death due to oxygen deprivation. Anesthesiologists and nurse anesthetists must remain diligent throughout procedures that require sedation or anesthesia.
5. Medical Malpractice During Childbirth Can Inflict Long-Term Injuries
Medical negligence during childbirth can inflict long-term harm to both mothers and babies, with birth injuries occurring in seven out of every 1,000 live births. Mistakes like failing to perform a cesarean section on time when medically necessary, improperly administering medication or anesthesia, not correctly interpreting fetal heart monitor readings, mishandling breech births, and using excessive force and vacuum extractions can endanger the baby. Mothers may sustain serious injuries as well, such as hemorrhaging or damage to the reproductive organs from botched deliveries.
Contact a Local Medical Malpractice Lawyer
If you are a victim of medical malpractice, contact a local medical malpractice lawyer as soon as possible. Medical malpractice covers a broad range of errors and omissions in medical care that result in patient injury or harm. Being aware of the most prevalent areas cited in medical malpractice claims can help healthcare professionals reduce risk and deliver safer care. Understanding the legal criteria for medical negligence can also benefit patients who may need to pursue rightful compensation.
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