Medical malpractice is, sadly, a common occurrence. In fact, there were about 8,600 medical malpractice claims filed in 2015, and it is estimated that medical malpractice incidents cause about 200,000 deaths each year in the United States. Doctors owe a duty of care to provide safe and effective treatment to patients. If they breach this duty, they may be held liable in court.
Here are 5 common causes of medical malpractice:
- Misdiagnosis, delayed diagnosis, and failure to diagnose. Doctors must provide accurate diagnoses to patients. If they fail, the condition may worsen, and improper treatment may be used. Many medical malpractice claims are filed against doctors who did not properly diagnose cancer and other serious conditions, resulting in harm to the patients.
- Childbirth injuries. Medical malpractice claims may be filed for negligence that occurs during the prenatal stage or during labor and delivery. If the doctor uses the wrong medication, fails to detect and treat fetal distress, or performs incorrect procedures, he or she may be held liable in a medical malpractice lawsuit.
- Surgical mistakes. Surgery errors often include leaving an instrument inside the body or causing nerve damage. More serious errors include operating on the wrong body part or on the wrong patient. Surgical mistakes often have devastating and lifelong consequences, and healthcare professionals must be held responsible.
- Medication mistakes. Prescribing an unsafe dosage of a medication, or the wrong medication entirely, can lead to dangerous and life-threatening conditions. Patients may suffer adverse effects from the medication, such as allergic reactions and overdose.
- Anesthesia mistakes. Anesthesiologists must read each patient’s health history and allergy information thoroughly before administering the medication. If they use an anesthesia that the patient is allergic to, or use too little or too much of it during surgery, they may be held liable in a medical malpractice lawsuit.
Call Our Knowledgeable Medical Malpractice Attorneys in Charleston – (304) 605-2040
At Berthold Law Firm, PLLC, we represent clients who have suffered harm from physician negligence. Many errors are caused by miscommunication and carelessness. In general, we trust physicians to have the education and experience to take care of us. When they negligently cause an injury, they must be held accountable. Our Charleston medical malpractice lawyers can guide you through the legal process as you pursue compensation.
Contact us today to receive a free case review.