When a medical mishap occurs as a result of a medical professional’s negligence, it is referred to as a medical malpractice. While there are only a very few cases of such, the cases are rather serious and have debilitating effects to the victims. However, it is important to note that it is not a simple case of a doctor making a mistake and the patient feeling dissatisfied. There are legal boundaries that need to be drawn and proven to build a case. Here are the three common types of medical malpractices.
Late diagnoses and misdiagnoses
This is the most common type of medical malpractice. It occurs when a doctor fails to diagnose a condition which resulted in the patient missing out on the opportunity to have the condition treated – that could have prevented it from worsening or even from death. 
To build a case, the victim needs to be able to prove that another doctor of the same specialization could have diagnosed the condition correctly and timely. If it is found that a competent and reasonably skillful doctor who, under the same circumstances as the misdiagnosing doctor, did not make such error – then treating physician is liable for medical malpractice.
Childbirth injuries
There are several injuries that both the baby and the mother can sustain during and after the pregnancy. As such, both physicians and obstetricians can be found liable for medical malpractice with the following:
Negligence during pregnancy
- The doctor is unable to diagnose medical conditions of the mother that could potentially endanger her and her baby, such as anemia, hypoglycemia, gestational diabetes, and preeclampsia
- The doctor is unable to identify any birth defects
- The doctor is unable to identify ectopic pregnancies
- The doctor fails to diagnose a disease that could be infectious to the developing fetus, such as neonatal lupus or genital herpes
Negligence during childbirth
- The doctor fails to anticipate any complications during childbirth, which can be caused by the large size of the baby, or the tangling of the umbilical cord
- The doctor fails to recognize and respond to signs of the baby’s distress
- The doctor does not execute a caesarian operation when it is obviously appropriate
- The doctor is unable to properly use a vacuum extractor or forceps
Medication errors
Doctors can sometimes make the error of prescribing the wrong medicine or the wrong dosage to their patients, in which the condition persists or ends up worse. Further, they may be cases when the right drug might be given to the hands of the wrong patient.
In some cases, the administration of the drug can also be the cause of the malpractice, such as the case when the nurse or another medical professional administers the incorrect amount. Furthermore, a medical malpractice case can also be filed if it was found that hospital equipment was found to be defective or malfunctioning.
Anesthesia errors
Anesthesiologists are highly trained specialists because of the extreme delicateness of the role that they play. As such, the failure to properly investigate and examine the patient’s medical history that could otherwise cause a reaction to the anesthesia could be grounds for medical malpractice. It can also occur during surgery, in which the incorrect amount is delivered to the patient, which could cause long term effects and concerns.
We place our trust in our doctors and nurses because we know that they are competent and trained for the job. However, if you find yourself suffering from the effects of medical malpractice, do not hesitate to contact the Law Offices of W.T Johnson so we can right the wrongs that were done to you.
