Common Causes Of Medical Malpractice

You may expect top-notch medical care when you see a doctor, and while many medical providers are excellent at what they do, they all make mistakes. Doctors are human, just like the rest of us. Sometimes they are too busy or not trained enough to thoroughly evaluate a patient, causing serious injuries, a worsened condition, and even death.

This is called medical malpractice and it happens much more often than you expect. More than 250,000 Americans die from medical malpractice every year. This is a concerning statistic. What is contributing to all these medical mistakes? Here are the most common causes.

Surgical Errors

Surgeons are most likely to be sued for medical malpractice, likely because a lot can go wrong during surgery. The surgeon could operate on the wrong body part, an organ could be punctured, they may accidentally cut a blood vessel, or a surgical tool could be left inside the patient’s body. Mistakes can also be made after the surgical procedure. For example, poor postoperative care could lead to infections.

Anesthesia Errors

Anesthesia errors happen during surgery and while they don’t happen often, they are usually deadly when they do. Mistakes may happen when the anesthesiologist neglects vital signs, fails to give the patient pre-surgery instructions, or gives the patient excessive anesthesia. When it comes to anesthesia, there is no room for error. Even the smallest miscalculation can lead to brain damage and even death.

Medication Errors

As many as 9,000 people die from medication errors in the United States every year. While most medications are generally safe, there are many things that can go wrong, such as allergic reactions and incorrect dosages. In hospital settings, the wrong medication may go to the wrong patient.

Complications With Labor and Delivery

Women have been giving birth since the beginning of time, and even though childbirth happens every day, mistakes can still happen. Even in a developed country such as the United States, the baby and even the mother face a huge risk of injury and death. Because these issues often come about due to poor prenatal care, OB/GYNs are often sued. They may also be held liable if they fail to monitor the labor, fail to perform a C-section, or do not use forceps or a vacuum extractor properly.

Infections

Infections are common in hospital environments, yet only a small percentage of medical workers inform patients of the risks. A lack of sanitation and cleanliness can lead to bacteria and superbugs such as Staphylococcus aureus, which is highly resistant to medications.

Contact Us Today

Don’t count on your doctor to provide flawless medical care. Many medical professionals make mistakes and many of these errors are deadly.

If you or a loved one was injured by a doctor’s negligence, seek legal help from the Florida medical malpractice attorneys at Meldon Law. We can help you win your case with our extensive courtroom experience and vast understanding of insurance company operations. We have three offices to serve you: Gainesville, Ocala, and Fort Lauderdale. Fill out the online form or call (800) 373-3000 to schedule a free consultation.

Resource:

patch.com/california/san-diego/10-medical-malpractice-statistics-you-should-know