Medical Mistakes Lawsuits | Medical Omissions Lawyer

There are many different movies, television shows, and news stories that depict dramatic medical mistakes, which do occur, but the fact is that there are many acts or failure to act that qualify as medical malpractice that are not obvious. This is why it is crucial to have an experienced medical malpractice attorney, like those at Stern Law, PLLC, take a careful look at medical records in order to determine whether there was a way to prevent the harm that occurred.

One of the most common types of preventable harm today is the spread of infection when a person goes into a hospital or other medical facility for care. With the rise of antibiotic-resistant diseases, the failure of a doctor, nurse, or facility administrator to take proper care to maintain a sterile environment can have catastrophic results for a patient.

However, this is just one of the many actions or failures to act that can lead to serious injuries or fatalities, including:

• Errors in prescribing or administering medications – This is one of the most common types of errors. A doctor may prescribe the wrong medication entirely or may prescribe it in the wrong dose, leading to an overdose or a failure to reach efficacious levels. In addition, a nurse or other medical professional might administer the wrong dose in a hospital or healthcare facility, leading to terrible harm;
• Errors in filling prescriptions – There are many different pharmacy errors that can lead to serious injury or death. A person could be given the wrong medication, even though the prescription was correct. Further, a child could be provided with an adult dose. These are just a couple of the many different ways that an error can be made;
• Errors in administering anesthesia during a procedure – The administration of anesthesia is a critical part of a surgical or other invasive procedure. If there is too much, too little, or the wrong type administered to a patient, then the results can be devastating;
• Failing to admit a patient promptly or gather the correct information upon intake – The initial moments when a patient presents himself to the person conducting the intake protocols can determine the outcome for the patient. If the intake person fails to recognize the severity of the situation or does not record the proper information, then the person can suffer a serious injury, or death;
• Failing to create the proper protocols for the administration of a hospital or other medical facility – This includes everything from maintaining protocols for the hiring, training, and oversight of staff to the creation of effective maintenance schedules for critical medical equipment. If there have been errors or omissions at this level, there could be far-ranging negative consequences;
• Failing to maintain accurate records – Although this overlaps with the improper administration of a medical facility, the accuracy of record-keeping is critical to prevent harm. A failure to maintain proper records can lead to the administration of the wrong drugs, the provision of the wrong type of care, or the operation on a wrong site. It is critical for records to be accurate, updated, and accessible to the appropriate medical professionals;
• Failing to maintain the confidentiality of a patient – The provision of medical information by the patient is critical for the proper treatment of a medical condition. If the failure of the medical professional or facility to maintain patient records as confidential leads to a patient refusing to volunteer critical information for fear of it getting out, then the consequences can be improper treatment and serious injury;
• Failing to maintain a sterile environment – As discussed above, there are many serious infections and diseases that can arise as the result of an unclean environment. Any healthcare facility should have a comprehensive cleaning protocol, as well as policies that cover how medical professionals and other employees must take steps to minimize their potential to spread bacteria and viruses;
• Failing to maintain a safe environment – This encompasses more than the sanitary conditions at a medical facility. If there is a threat to the personal safety of patients or their loved ones that could have been prevented with reasonable precautions, then there may be a potential claim. However, this claim may fall outside the scope of medical malpractice actions;
• Failure to provide necessary treatment – The economics of healthcare has led to a number of cases where a person was denied necessary medical care and sent to another facility, leading to serious harm that could have been prevented if the care were rendered at the original facility; and
• Failure to provide medical care in accordance with the applicable standards – This is a catchall that refers to the actual care that is provided to the patient. Doctors, nurses, technicians, and pharmacists all may act in a manner that breaches the standard of care relevant to the facts and circumstances surrounding the provision of care.

Regardless of the nature of the medical error that was committed, it is critical to take immediate and decisive action in response to the malpractice. This type of harm never should be tolerated as it is completely preventable, yet may alter a person’s, and family’s, life forever. If you or a loved one has been the victim of medical malpractice, it is important to consult with experienced medical malpractice attorneys who are committed to advocating passionately on your behalf.

Stern Law, PLLC Makes the Difference for Medical Malpractice Victims

At Stern Law, PLLC, we are committed to doing everything possible to get the outcome that our clients deserve after being harmed because of a preventable medical mistake. As part of our dedication to providing resources and information to our clients and other individuals who may have suffered from medical malpractice, we have people available to answer questions 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call us at 1-844-808-7529 or fill out an online contact form in order to learn how we can help you get through this difficult time.