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Medical Malpractice: The Most Common Examples

Medical malpractice is a lot more common than most of us would imagine. Healthcare practitioners are human and prone to error as a result. However, these errors can have devastating impacts on a patient's physical and mental wellbeing. For this reason, it's vital to choose a doctor with a good track record. 

It's relatively straightforward to enquire about a healthcare practitioner's professional reputation, so make sure you do this when choosing a professional. 

But even so, if you have experienced any of the following instances, you can contact Lamber Goodnow law firm's personal injury attorneys to seek legal counsel and claim compensation for medical malpractice. 

Misdiagnosis

Misdiagnosis is a lot more common than most of us might think. Unfortunately, being diagnosed wrongly or too late will negatively impact the quality of life. Not to mention, incorrect medications and dosages will have adverse effects on health. For this reason, misdiagnosis is a prevalent example of medical malpractice. 

According to a study, one in three instances of misdiagnosis results in severe injury or death. Moreover, misdiagnosis is also a leading cause of pediatric medical malpractice lawsuits. So, it's essential to handle the matter by consulting a personal injury attorney as soon as possible. 

Unnecessary Surgery

It's no secret that surgical procedures can cost a fortune, often sending families into a crippling debt spiral that's hard to get out of. Moreover, surgery also impacts patients' quality of life as a recovery period is always relevant. 

So, unnecessary surgery can be a massive setback for no reason. Fortunately, you can seek compensation with the help of a personal injury lawyer if you have undergone surgery that was recommended by your healthcare practitioner unnecessarily. 

Incorrect Surgical Procedures And Surgical Mishaps

Things can go wrong during surgical procedures due to negligence and even accidents. This example of malpractice refers to objects left inside the patient, additional surgical incisions, incorrect surgical sites, and more. 

Wrong Medication Or Incorrect Dosage

While misdiagnosis can be at the core of incorrect medication and dosage recommendations, this can also occur even if the patient has been diagnosed correctly. Several factors determine suitable medications and safe dosages. A malpractice lawsuit is relevant if medical practitioners or pharmacists overlook these fundamental factors and give patients the wrong medicine or the wrong dosage. 

Taking the wrong medicine or even the right medicine in the wrong dosage can have negative impacts on health and wellbeing. 

Premature Discharge

After undergoing medical treatments or procedures, sometimes, patients are discharged too soon. In these instances, the patient may develop adverse health reactions or endure complications due to lack of care. Once again, it's essential to consult a personal injury lawyer if you have been discharged too soon and endured complications or side effects as a result. 

Overlooking Patient History

Medical practitioners keep a detailed track record for each patient. Moreover, your healthcare practitioner needs to confirm your medical history with you as a new patient. So, medical negligence is relevant if a doctor overlooks your medical history by ignoring existing patient files or by neglecting to verify this information before prescribing treatments or procedures. In these situations, you can file a claim this error led to harm in any way. 

Poor Follow-Up Care

Follow-up care is often essential, primarily when surgical procedures have been performed. When healthcare workers fail to provide patients with adequate follow-up care, infections and complications can arise. As a result, patients can file a medical malpractice lawsuit if follow-up care is neglected and adverse effects develop as a result. 

When filing for medical malpractice, you can file a claim within four years from the date of the alleged malpractice incident. There is, however, an exception for victims of malpractice who were under the age of eight during the time of the incident. But even so, it's definitely best not to wait too long and consult a lawyer as soon as possible. 

There are also several other common mistakes your doctor could be making, like overprescribing medications, overlooking allergies, and more. With this, because medical malpractice is a relatively complex area of personal injury law, it's wise to consult an attorney if you suspect medical negligence. 

An experienced lawyer will assess your situation and determine whether you have a medical malpractice lawsuit or not. Moreover, because many law firms offer their first consultation free, it's worthwhile to book a consultation if you aren't entirely sure. Be sure to bring any evidence that might be valid in building a case.


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