What Are The Common Forms Of Medical Malpractice?

Medical malpractice is a type of negligence that occurs when a healthcare provider fails to provide an acceptable standard of care, resulting in injury or death. Unfortunately, medical malpractice can occur in many forms, including misdiagnosis, delayed diagnosis, and surgical errors.

If you or a loved one was hurt while receiving medical care, contact our Maryland medical malpractice attorneys at Berman | Sobin | Gross LLP to get the assistance you need. We can help you sue negligent doctors and hospitals to ensure that you receive the compensation to which you are entitled.

The Most Common Forms of Medical Malpractice

There are many different forms of medical malpractice. However, the most common ones include:

• Misdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis. Misdiagnosis is the most common form of medical malpractice, and it happens when the doctor incorrectly diagnoses a patient with the wrong condition. This can lead to incorrect treatments, which can cause serious harm to the patient’s health. On the other hand, delayed diagnosis occurs when there’s a gap between when symptoms first appear and when they are correctly diagnosed. This type of medical negligence is especially dangerous because it gives illnesses time to progress untreated, leading to more severe forms. According to research by Johns Hopkins Medicine, diagnostic errors account for the largest percentage of medical malpractice claims in the U.S.
• Medication errors. Another form of medical malpractice is medication errors. This happens when doctors prescribe or administer the wrong medication or dose – either by mistake or due to poor communication between physicians. Medication errors can have serious consequences, such as allergic reactions, organ failure, and even death in extreme cases. It’s important for patients to be familiar with their medications so that they can speak up if something seems off about them.
• Surgical errors. Surgical errors are another type of medical malpractice that can cause severe injury or death in patients who were not adequately prepared for the risks associated with surgery. Surgical errors include operating on the wrong body part or leaving surgical instruments inside a patient’s body after surgery has been completed. These mistakes can cause infections, nerve damage, organ damage, paralysis, and more. To reduce risk during surgeries, doctors must take additional steps such as double-checking documents and confirming consent before the operation begins.

Medical professionals must always adhere to the accepted standards of care when treating patients, performing surgery, prescribing medication, or doing other things.

Proving a Medical Malpractice Case

In order to prove that a doctor deviated from the accepted standards of care when treating a patient, there must be evidence that another reasonable doctor in the same field would not have acted similarly under similar circumstances. This means that an experienced medical malpractice attorney will need to investigate the case thoroughly and gather evidence, such as medical records and testimonies from expert witnesses, in order to build a strong case against the negligent doctor or hospital.

The Legal Guidance You Can Rely On

Medical malpractice is a serious issue that can lead to devastating consequences for patients who are injured as a result of negligence or incompetence on behalf of their healthcare provider.

If you have been injured due to medical malpractice, it is important to seek legal counsel in order to ensure your rights are protected and your claim is handled properly so you can get adequately compensated for your losses. Our results-driven medical malpractice attorneys at Berman | Sobin | Gross LLP can help you understand if your case qualifies for compensation. Call 800-248-3352 to get a free consultation.

Source:

hopkinsmedicine.org/news/media/releases/diagnostic_errors_more_common_costly_and_harmful_than_treatment_mistakes