You should never have to worry that your doctor or other medical professionals will not provide adequate care, but it does happen. Medical malpractice is one of the leading causes of death across the nation, and when it doesn’t end in death, it often ends in serious injury or illness. If you or a loved one was injured at the hands of a medical professional, you may be entitled to compensation for medical malpractice. The following are some common medical malpractice cases.
1. Birth Injuries
Babies are some of the most vulnerable patients, and it can be devastating when they are injured during the first moments of life. Birth injuries can be quite serious, even leading to death. Some birth injuries include nerve damage, cerebral palsy, shoulder dystocia, spinal cord injuries and cephalohematoma.
2. Failure To Diagnose
A failure to diagnose leads to a failure to treat. Both of these issues can be quite serious. If someone is diagnosed incorrectly, treatment is often incorrect as well. Sometimes the diagnosis is correct, but the doctor fails to treat it correctly. In either case, the patient can suffer greatly as a result.
3. Prescription Drug Errors
There is a long list of individuals who could play a role in a prescription drug error. First, the doctor could prescribe the wrong medication. Second, the nurse could put the order into the computer incorrectly. Third, the pharmaceutical company could taint the medication. Fourth, the pharmacist could fill the order wrong. Finally, the pharmacy technician could give the patient the wrong order. You can see how there are various mistakes that could be made, and your lawyer can help you find where the error occurred.
4. Surgical Mistakes
Surgical mistakes happen far too often and could include a wide range of problems. For example, a surgeon could operate under the influence of drugs or alcohol. A surgeon could leave a surgical tool inside the body of the patient. Surgeons sometimes operate on the wrong arm or wrong internal organ. Some of these mistakes, such as leaving an instrument inside a body, aren’t noticed until later. Others are noticed too soon when the patient dies. In either case, you or a loved one could be entitled to compensation.
Getting in Touch With a Medical Malpractice Lawyer
Dealing with a mistake that a medical professional made isn’t something you should have to worry about. If you or a loved one was injured by a doctor or other professional, contact a wrongful death attorney to learn more.