People see a doctor to get better and trust them with their life. Doctors and other healthcare practitioners have a duty of care towards humankind. They are to do everything in their power to save their life, prolong it, or improve it as much as possible. However, everyone makes mistakes and someone suffers the consequences. Physicians, nurses, and medics sometimes fail to fulfill their obligations and instigate blunders. The patient under observation is harmed or even immersed in a life-threatening situation. If you have incurred severe injuries due to the negligence of a healthcare provider, you should be eligible to file a medical malpractice claim.
Personal Injury Attorney in Sayville, NY, elaborates the most common types of medical malpractice cases where patients can claim compensation for their damages:
1. Misdiagnosis
When a person feels ill or is experiencing unusual symptoms, the first step is to see a physician so they can diagnose the problem. Many experienced and competent doctors are able to identify the issue through a simple physical examination. However, blood tests, X-rays, or scans are usually required to confirm suspicions or dig deeper when the condition is unclear. Unfortunately, doctors fail at understanding the patient’s health concern at times. They will either tell the patient that they are fine or deliver a diagnosis that has nothing to do with the real issue.
A misdiagnosis may lead to the patient being treated for something that does not exist. The condition of the patient may deteriorate or get worse until the real problem is detected. A delayed diagnosis might still allow to save the patient’s life, though it does not fully compensate for their pain and suffering.
2. Birth Injuries
Birth injuries are a very common case that result in thousands of medical malpractice claims every year. Birth injuries take place when doctors or gynecologists fail at providing proper care to women during pregnancy, labor, and after birthing the child; both the mother and her baby are endangered in the process. Injuries can occur during induced labor, C-section procedure, or even natural delivery. The newly-born may suffer birth defects like cerebral palsy that damages the brain and muscles; the condition affects a person’s ability to move and maintain balance throughout their life.
3. Surgical Errors
Surgeries are the most invasive form of medical treatment that may expose the patient to high-level risks. For instance, inadequate sterilization during an operation may lead to sepsis, and thereby death due to a lethal infection. The most common type of surgical errors have to do with administration of anesthesia. If the amount of anesthesia injected into the patient is slightly more or less than the required dosage, it has severe consequences. Other surgical errors include making a wrong cut/incision, leaving a surgical instrument in the body, or operating on the wrong side/part of the body.
4. Unnecessary Treatment
Sometimes doctors prescribe or suggest avoidable medical procedures that are painful and useless for the patient. The reason for providing the unnecessary treatment is often a way to mint more money from the vulnerable subject. At times, the patient is charged for treatment that they never received. Monetary fraud at healthcare institutions is also a prevalent kind of medical malpractice.
5. Wrong Medication
Prescription drugs can produce adverse effects if they are taken for the wrong condition or in the wrong amount. Some drugs may react with other medication that a person is consuming, or interfere with a secondary health issue. The doctor should thoroughly review the patient’s medical history before prescribing any pills. An excessive dosage can also cause excruciating symptoms and endanger life.
