When an illness or injury occurs, many people rely on the expertise of medical professionals to provide excellent treatment for recovery. However, since medical care providers are human, errors are possible for numerous reasons. Some of the common causes for medical malpractice are errors with medication doses, a failed diagnosis and surgical errors.
Estimates show that nearly 15 million medical mistakes occur in the United States annually, many resulting in medical malpractice lawsuits. Several types of medical professionals might commit medical malpractice. Typically, a hospital could be held liable when an employee commits malpractice.
Medication Errors
Many adults take a combination of over-the-counter medications, dietary supplements and prescription medications. Unless patients inform their physician about certain medicines, the physician may prescribe medication that interacts negatively with other medicines. Physicians should also know about previous diagnoses before prescribing medications. It is recommended that patients keep a list of all medications – including dosage information at all times.
Improper communication of medication orders at the pharmacy may also cause errors. These may include sloppy handwriting, similar drug names, improper use of decimal points and zeros and confusion about dosing units.
Misdiagnosis of an Illness
A delay in treatment or failure to make a proper diagnosis of an illness might lead to medical malpractice. This is particularly true if the delay or misdiagnosis causes an additionally injury or the progression of a life-threatening disease. Malpractice is a concern when a timely diagnosis could have halted the progression.
Another possible cause of medical malpractice occurs when a patient receives treatment for a condition or disease he or she does not have. The patient is harmed by the medication prescribed or treatment. While the patient receives treatment for the wrong condition, the real health issue is left untreated, possibly causing more harm.
In some cases, a misdiagnosis can occur because of poor communication between the physician and patient. Asking questions or receiving full explanation about treatments and diagnostic tests may stem the problems of medical malpractice.
Surgical Errors
Generally, thousands of patients suffer from surgical mistakes each year. Some of the surgical mistakes that occur include operating on the wrong side of the body, or operating on the wrong patient. Failure to discuss the details about a surgical procedure with the surgeon increases the risks of errors.
Laws regarding medical malpractice are typically for protecting the rights of patients who pursue compensation because of medical negligence. However, most medical malpractice lawsuits can become costly and complex.
This information is for general purposes only and is not a substitute for legal advice. A person should consult an experienced Connecticut Medical Malpractice Lawyer concerning a possible medical malpractice issue.