Understanding Ways in Which Medical Malpractice Can Occur
Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare professional or medical facility deviates from the standard of care and causes harm or injury to a patient. Such instances are more common than many realize and can adversely affect one’s welfare and quality of life. As a result, it is essential to understand how medical malpractice manifests itself and how a personal injury attorney can help
Forms of Medical Malpractice
Commonly seen forms of medical malpractice include the following:
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Doctor errors – This form of medical malpractice is one of if not the most common form. These errors can range from failing to diagnose a condition, misdiagnosis, prescribing the wrong medication or performing a surgical procedure negligently with resulting complications. Most doctors have the expertise and training to provide top-notch medical care, but mistakes can and do still happen. Common errors committed by doctors may be from fatigue or communication breakdowns.
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Hospital errors – These costly errors may be due to negligence, poorly trained staff, or management issues in the hospital. In some cases, hospitals have been sued for failing to ensure clean and safe environments. Additionally, hospitals may be liable for nursing errors, which can result in miscommunication of important patient information leading to medication errors. Some examples of hospital errors include prescription errors, surgical errors, or facility errors like neglecting to establish proper patient safety codes
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Primary care errors – This form of medical malpractice is more common among healthcare providers who supply general medical care, like family doctors or nurse practitioners. These providers may fail to refer a patient to a specialist when necessary, prescribe incorrect medication or dosage, or overlook symptoms and tests that could have led to a diagnosis. Primary care mistakes can be very consequential with catastrophic consequences
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Birth injuries – These are often the result of errors during the delivery process in hospitals or medical facilities. Such errors can have devastating outcomes, both for the newborn baby and the mother involved. Some common birth injuries are cerebral palsy, neonatal asphyxia, and brachial plexus injuries.
Source:
https://www.forbes.com/advisor/legal/personal-injury/medical-malpractice/
