The incidence of medical malpractice in the United States has reached epidemic proportions, responsible for hundreds of thousands of injuries annually. Despite its increasing frequency, most Americans remain unaware as to what constitutes medical malpractice. In short, medical malpractice is a breach of duty by a healthcare professional that results in harm to a patient.

The following malpractice list describes some of the more common instances of medical negligence. If you have been injured by any of the errors on the malpractice list below, you should consult a lawyer as soon as possible:

• Obstetric error – Childbirth is a vulnerable time for both the mother and her child, and it’s crucial that doctors and medical staff take extra care to ensure patient safety during the delivery process. Failure to do so can result in significant injury and even permanent disability, including brain damage and cerebral palsy. Obstetric errors may include delayed response to fetal distress, fetal oxygen deprivation, failure to diagnose infection in the mother or infant, misuse of delivery tools such as forceps and unnecessary C-section, to name a few.
• Surgical error – One of the most common surgical errors occurs when the surgical team leaves an instrument or gauze inside the patient after the procedure is complete. This is a dangerous error that can result in serious internal injuries, infection and even death. Other surgical errors include surgery on the wrong body part or on the wrong patient.
• Medication mistake – Perhaps the most frequently occurring type of malpractice listed here, medication errors are responsible for hundreds of thousands of injuries every year in the United States alone. Young children and the elderly are particularly susceptible to medication errors, but even healthy Americans can suffer severe injury and death when given the wrong dose of a medication or the wrong medication.
• Diagnostic error – These types of errors are unfortunate but not uncommon. And though a diagnostic error may occur for any number of reasons, physicians have a duty to listen to their patients and try to make the best diagnosis given a patient’s history and particular set of symptoms. This is not always the case, and the result can range from a misdiagnosis to a failure to diagnose altogether. Frequently misdiagnosed conditions include cancer (such as breast and prostate), heart attack and certain infections.

This malpractice list is not exhaustive, as medical malpractice takes many forms. The medical community is extremely diverse, and healthcare professionals from doctors to nurses to pharmacists to lab technicians may be responsible for an act of negligence.

Patients who suspect that medical malpractice caused their injury should always seek legal advice immediately. An experienced attorney can determine whether an individual is eligible to pursue a legal claim for compensation.

Injured by Medical Malpractice?

If you have questions about the malpractice list above – for instance, whether or not a particular error caused your injuries – contact Burke & Eisner today. Even if you’ve suffered a medical injury not reflected on the malpractice list above, it’s probably in your best interest to talk to an attorney. We offer free claim evaluations and we’ll be happy to answer your legal questions and advise you of your options.

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 See Also:

• Medical Malpractice
• Doctor Malpractice

Cerebral Palsy Law Blog