Common Medical Malpractice Injuries
Medical malpractice can lead to serious and lasting harm for patients. As attorneys such as our friends at Pavlack Law, LLC know, while not every medical error qualifies as malpractice, when a healthcare provider fails to meet the standard of care, the consequences can be life-altering.
Surgical Errors
Mistakes during surgery are among the most well-known forms of medical malpractice. These can include operating on the wrong body part, leaving surgical instruments inside a patient, or performing an unnecessary procedure. Surgical injuries can result in infections, permanent damage to organs or nerves, or the need for additional corrective surgeries, which can be both harmful and costly for victims.
Misdiagnosis Or Delayed Diagnosis
Failing to diagnose a condition correctly or in a timely manner can lead to serious health issues. For example, a missed cancer diagnosis might allow the disease to progress to an advanced stage before it’s discovered. Similarly, a heart attack misdiagnosed as indigestion can prevent someone from receiving critical emergency treatment. Misdiagnoses may also lead to unnecessary treatment that can be harmful, and victims can pursue compensation in this case as well.
Birth Injuries
Errors during labor and delivery can harm both the mother and the baby. Common examples include oxygen deprivation, improper use of delivery tools, and failure to respond to signs of fetal distress. These injuries can result in long-term conditions such as cerebral palsy, brachial plexus injuries, or developmental delays.
Medication Errors
Prescribing or administering the wrong medication—or the wrong dosage—can lead to serious reactions, organ damage, or even death. This type of malpractice may involve doctors, nurses, or pharmacists. It often stems from communication issues or failure to review a patient’s history for allergies or interactions. A good medical malpractice lawyer can help you determine if medication errors are to blame for your injuries and gather evidence in order to prove so.
Anesthesia Mistakes
Anesthesia must be carefully calculated and monitored. Errors can occur before, during, or after surgery. Too much anesthesia can result in brain damage, while too little may cause a patient to regain consciousness during surgery. Other complications include breathing problems and allergic reactions. In some cases, even death can occur, in which case a wrongful death lawyer can help you file a claim for wrongful death.
Hospital-Acquired Infections
Patients trust that hospitals are clean and sterile environments, but poor hygiene or improper care can result in infections. In some cases, these infections are preventable with proper sanitation protocols and attention to detail from medical staff.
Nerve Damage
Nerves can be damaged during surgery or by improper injection techniques. This type of injury can cause chronic pain, loss of function, or long-term disability. In many cases, nerve damage could have been avoided with proper care and attention to detail.
Medical malpractice injuries are often preventable and can have lasting impacts on a person’s health and quality of life. If you or a loved one has suffered from medical malpractice, it is important to act in a timely manner. Contact an attorney today.