What Is The Difference Between A Surgical Error And A Misdiagnosis?
Surgical errors and misdiagnoses are among the most prevalent and devastating types of medical errors that give rise to medical malpractice claims. The primary differences between the two include their causes, consequences, and legal implications. Surgical errors happen during surgical procedures and can physically harm patients. A misdiagnosis, on the other hand, refers to a doctor’s failure to accurately diagnose the patient’s condition. This can lead to treatment delays and incorrect treatment.
Whether you were harmed by a surgical error or were misdiagnosed, you have the right to demand compensation for your losses by filing a medical malpractice claim against the negligent medical provider. To better understand how these two malpractice types differ and navigate the legal process after getting injured due to a medical error, it’s in your best interest to discuss your situation with a seasoned Greenville medical malpractice attorney.
What Exactly Are Surgical Errors?
Surgical errors are accidental, preventable injuries that occur in the perioperative period, which is the time before, during, and after surgery. It’s crucial to note that these are not known acceptable surgery risks. Likewise, the medical professionals involved could’ve prevented these errors had they followed the proper protocols. Common examples of surgical errors include:
- Anesthesia errors
- Operating on the wrong body part or patient
- Surgical specimen labeling errors
- Retained surgical tools or foreign bodies inside the patient
These errors typically result from negligence due to insufficient experience or training, not following protocols, and vague or inadequate communication. Depending on the situation, surgical errors can cause minor complications, permanent disabilities, or death.
What Exactly Is A Misdiagnosis?
A misdiagnosis refers to a doctor’s failure to accurately identify a patient’s illness or condition. Misdiagnoses typically occur due to doctor overconfidence or inexperience, communication issues, time constraints, improper testing, fragmented care, personal bias, and neglecting patient symptoms.
When a patient is misdiagnosed, they may be injured because of delayed or incorrect treatment. Sometimes, their condition can become potentially fatal because they are not getting the treatment they need. Common examples of misdiagnoses include misinterpreting test results, failure to identify terminal or progressive conditions in their early stages, diagnosing the wrong condition, and providing an incomplete or incorrect diagnosis.
What You Should Know About Medical Malpractice Claims Based On Surgical Errors And Misdiagnoses
When it comes to proving negligence, surgical errors are usually easier to handle than misdiagnosis claims because surgical interventions have clear and specific procedures and protocols. With a surgical error claim, your Greenville medical malpractice lawyer must prove that you suffered an injury because a medical provider on the surgical team deviated from the accepted standard of care during your procedure.
With a misdiagnosis claim, your Greenville medical malpractice attorney must prove your doctor failed to properly diagnose your condition. Consequently, your misdiagnosis resulted in harm, including more aggravated symptoms, incorrect treatments, unnecessary tests or procedures, or delayed treatment.
Concentrate On Your Recovery While Our Compassionate Greenville Medical Malpractice Lawyers Focus On Securing Your Compensation
At Parham Smith & Archenhold LLC, our Greenville medical malpractice attorneys are dedicated to holding medical providers responsible for their negligent actions and pursuing maximum compensation for injured patients. Schedule your complimentary case evaluation online or at 864-242-9008 to learn how our Greenville medical malpractice lawyers can serve you.