5 Concerning Ways Medical Malpractice Can Seriously Harm Patients

When you go to a medical professional for help, you put your health and wellbeing in their hands. This applies to doctors, surgeons, dentists, and even psychiatrists. While in most cases, professionals can be trusted to do their jobs with the utmost care, adverse incidents can occur.

When medical professionals fail to do their job right, it’s known as medical negligence or medical malpractice. These are incidents where patients are harmed by the carelessness of those meant to look after them. Statistics reveal that medical errors are the third leading cause of death in the USA.

If a patient has received inadequate or downright harmful medical care, they should seek help. Errors by doctors can cause health problems, injuries, and severe reduction of quality of life. Medical malpractice lawyers deal with thousands of cases every year to help patients get compensation.

Medical negligence can occur in numerous professions. Here are some of the major incidents where patients may be harmed.

Misdiagnosis

If a doctor mistakes a cold for the flu, it isn’t a big deal. However, some misdiagnoses can be incredibly damaging in a multitude of ways.

One woman in Florida sued a hospital for a false cancer diagnosis. The woman had to undergo unneeded surgeries and six months of trauma and grief due to a doctor’s mistake.

An incorrect diagnosis can be tragic, but in some cases, patients may not even get the diagnosis they need. Some patients have conditions that go undiagnosed for years, even despite visiting doctors. It’s essential that professionals do whatever they can to give a correct diagnosis.

Surgical Errors

Surgeons carry out some of the most important jobs in hospitals. While most can be trusted to take their job incredibly seriously, there are shocking incidents of severe negligence.

There have been many shocking cases of surgical negligence. Things like surgeons operating on the wrong body parts and failing to administer anesthetic are more common than they should be.

Mistakes during surgery can be fatal. Families of affected parties often carry out legal action against the offenders.

Pregnancy/Birth Problems

Inadequate medical care can cause numerous problems during pregnancy and birth. Doctors should always advise pregnant patients on look after their baby during pregnancy. They should also inform them whether any health defects are expected after the birth.

The administering of drugs and procedure of delivery is also important. Mistakes during this time can lead to serious problems for the newborn.

Poor Medical Advice

All medical professionals need to ensure to keep patients well informed with expert advice. This becomes particularly important with serious health problems. If a patient is led into a harmful surgery as they weren’t informed of safer alternatives, a doctor is liable to legal action.

Incorrect Medication

When patients are administered medication, it’s important they take the right dosage of the right meds. Taking medication that you don’t need can be harmful to the body. High dosages can be even more problematic.

It isn’t just medication for physical illnesses, either. Psychiatrists often administer the wrong medication to patients. This affects the patient’s mental well-being, and can also cause many negative side effects.