Doctors, healthcare professionals, and hospitals have a legal duty to live up to the standards of their professions. They could be liable for medical malpractice when they make mistakes because they didn’t meet those standards. If a medical provider’s negligence harmed you or a loved one, you could bring a lawsuit seeking substantial compensation. Some types of medical negligence happen because of a healthcare professional’s actions, for example, performing an operation when none was needed. Other medical errors occur because of a failure to act, for example, not ordering a necessary medical test and therefore missing a diagnosis. Below, we explain 5 common medical errors that can result in a lawsuit.
5 Types of Medical Negligence
1. Medication Errors
This common error occurs when providers prescribe or administer the wrong medication or dosage. The patient may be harmed in two ways. The drug or dosage they receive may be dangerous for them, and they are not getting the medication or dosage they need to treat their condition.
2. Diagnosis Errors
Several types of medical negligence involve diagnosis errors. Doctors may be negligent if they make the wrong diagnosis or fail to diagnose a disease or condition. They may also be negligent if they make the correct diagnosis but do so too late for the patient to get the necessary care.
3. Surgical Errors
There are many ways that surgery can go wrong due to the negligence of a healthcare professional and/or a hospital. Serious harm can be done if the wrong operation is performed or it’s performed on the wrong part of the body or the wrong patient. Organs may be damaged by errors made during surgery. Surgeons may leave sponges or other objects inside a patient. Providers may fail to correctly follow post-surgical procedures or give patients sufficient post-operative instructions for recovery.
4. Childbirth Injuries
Medical negligence before, during, or after delivery may cause childbirth injuries. Negligent errors in prenatal care include failure to diagnose conditions that may lead to birth defects when untreated. Potential errors during labor and delivery can include:
- Failure to properly monitor or respond to fetal distress
- Not performing a C-section when necessary
- Causing injury by incorrectly using forceps or other equipment
Negligent postnatal care can also harm the infant. When a child is born with birth defects because of medical negligence, they may have serious and permanent disabilities.
5. Anesthesia Errors
Anesthesia that is not properly administered may have serious or even fatal consequences. Negligent errors may include failing to correctly evaluate the patient before surgery, not providing necessary preoperative instructions, administering too much anesthesia, not properly monitoring the patient while under anesthesia, and not placing the breathing tool correctly.
The medical malpractice legal team at Garmey Law has successfully fought for the rights of victims of many types of medical negligence. If you believe you were injured by the medical negligence of a doctor, another provider, hospital, or clinic, call us at (207) 481-4683, or contact us through our website for a free consultation.
