malpractice occurs when a healthcare professional, such as a doctor, nurse, or hospital, fails to provide the standard of care expected in their field, resulting in harm or injury to a patient. There are several common types of medical malpractice cases, including
Misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis
This occurs when a healthcare professional fails to correctly diagnose a patient’s condition or delays the diagnosis, leading to a worsened prognosis or delayed treatment.
Surgical errors
Surgical errors can include mistakes made during surgery, such as operating on the wrong body part, leaving surgical instruments inside the patient, or damaging nearby organs or tissues.
Medication errors
Medication errors can happen when healthcare professionals prescribe the wrong medication, administer the wrong dosage, or fail to consider potential drug interactions or allergies.
Birth injuries
Birth injuries can occur when healthcare professionals fail to properly monitor the mother and baby during labor and delivery, leading to complications such as oxygen deprivation, nerve damage, or brain injuries.
Anesthesia errors
Anesthesia errors can range from administering too much or too little anesthesia to failing to monitor the patient’s vital signs during surgery, resulting in complications or even death.
Failure to obtain informed consent
Healthcare professionals have a duty to inform patients about the risks, benefits, and alternatives of a proposed treatment or procedure. Failure to obtain informed consent can result in legal action if the patient suffers harm as a result.
Nursing home negligence
Negligence in nursing homes can include inadequate care, medication errors, failure to prevent falls or infections, or abuse and neglect of residents.
Laboratory errors
Laboratory errors can occur when samples are mishandled, mislabeled, or misinterpreted, leading to incorrect diagnoses or delayed treatment.
Failure to follow proper protocols
Healthcare professionals are expected to follow established protocols and guidelines to ensure patient safety. Failure to do so can result in medical malpractice if harm or injury occurs as a result.
Lack of communication or miscommunication
Effective communication among healthcare professionals is crucial for patient safety. Miscommunication or lack of communication can lead to errors in diagnosis, treatment, or medication administration.