Most Common Types of Medical Malpractice
It is estimated that about 17,000 medical malpractice claims are filed each year in the U.S. While this number is alarming, it does not accurately represent the total number of patients impacted. Given the difficulty of proving a medical malpractice case, many people choose not to pursue legal action. The result is thousands of individuals who are not compensated for their damages, bearing a financial burden caused by someone else.
At Parham Smith & Archenhold LLC, we are committed to holding physicians and other medical providers accountable for their actions. If you have been negatively affected by a provider’s carelessness or misstep, our Greenville medical malpractice lawyers would like to hear from you.
Misdiagnosis
With approximately one in every five patients being improperly diagnosed, misdiagnosis is the leading cause of medical malpractice in our country. A misdiagnosis can result in improper treatment or medications being administered, causing a patient further harm than if they were not treated at all. Approximately 795,000 people experience permanent disability or death due to this avoidable error.
Delay in Diagnosis or Treatment
While a delay in diagnosis does not always have dire consequences, during labor and delivery, there is most often no room for error. A physician who fails to properly monitor fetal heart rate or who is trying to manage a busy delivery ward may miss the signs of fetal distress. This may result in a delay in ordering a C-section (caesarean section). A delayed C-section comes with a host of dangers for the baby, including seizures, organ failure, and neurological deficits. Not to mention, a delayed C-section places the mother at an increased risk of uterine rupture, hemorrhage, and infection.
Surgical Errors
So far, we have discussed errors that may take place in a clinical setting, but the mistakes in the operating room cannot be ignored. Common surgical mistakes include wrong site surgeries, foreign objects being left behind in body cavities, anesthesia dosing errors, and post-operative infections.
Although post-operative infection is a known surgical complication, it may be a physician’s fault when it is due to poorly sterilized instruments or a surgeon failing to follow hygiene protocols (The WHO generally recommends a three-minute scrub, with scrub times varying based on the solution used).
Medication Errors
A medication error may be due to the wrong medication being prescribed, the wrong dosage being prescribed, or the wrong medication and/or dosage being administered. In some cases, a pharmacist will be liable for a medication error if a practitioner writes the correct prescription, but it is misfilled by the pharmacy.
Failure to Obtain Informed Consent
A patient should always have complete say over what happens to their bodies. Patient autonomy is a trademark of medicine, requiring that patients give their informed consent before undergoing a procedure or treatment. A patient can only provide informed consent when the physician explains their diagnosis, the benefits and risks of the recommended procedure, and alternative therapies.
Patients must also be given an opportunity to ask any questions before undergoing treatment to ensure they understand the information provided. If you believe that you were not provided with crucial information prior to a treatment or procedure, you should speak with a malpractice lawyer.
Contact a Greenville Medical Malpractice Attorney Today
We rely on the knowledge and specialized skill set of healthcare professionals when we are not feeling well. Whereas most medical professionals adhere to the code of conduct expected of them, others fail to maintain their professional duties, causing patients irreparable harm in the process.
If you or a family member has been impacted by a provider’s oversight, do not hesitate to contact our Greenville medical malpractice lawyers. To schedule your free consultation or to learn more, contact Parham Smith & Archenhold LLC, online or by calling (864) 432-1796 today.