Types of Medical Malpractice Cases

Medical malpractice occurs when a doctor, nurse, physician’s aide, therapist, pharmacist, or medical facility acts or fails to act in a manner that would be considered reasonable when done by another person of similar background and training under comparable circumstances. There are many different types of medical malpractice, but some are more common than others.

Several of the most common categories of medical malpractice are:

• Pregnancy and Birth Injuries – A person is especially vulnerable to medical mistakes when she is pregnant. This is because it is critical to identify problems early and respond promptly and effectively. If the medical professional makes a mistake, it can lead to severe, long-term harm for the mother and/or child. Some of the more common types of errors include:
  • Failure to diagnose an infection in the mother during pregnancy;
  • Failure to properly monitor a mother during a high-risk pregnancy;
  • Failure to diagnose a complication in the baby during pregnancy;
  • Failure to monitor the medical conditions of the mother and baby during delivery;
  • Failure to respond to an emergency situation property, including ordering an emergency Cesarean section in a timely manner;
  • Failure to use forceps or a vacuum extractor properly during delivery; and
  • Failure to respond to the baby’s medical condition after delivery.
• Diagnosis Errors – There are several different types of diagnosis errors, including failures to identify complicating factors and failures to diagnose illnesses that are camouflaged by other medical conditions, but the most common types of diagnosis errors are failing to make the correct diagnosis (misdiagnosis) and delaying a diagnosis to the point where additional harm is done to the patient;
• Surgical Errors – There are many mistakes that can be made by a doctor, nurse, anesthesiologist, or other medical professional during surgery that can lead to long-term, severe harm. Even an administrative errors that misidentifies a patient or a procedure can be devastating. Some of the most common types of mistakes include injuring adjacent areas to the surgical site, leading to organ, blood vessel, or nerve damage, failing to achieve the objectives of the surgery, operating on the wrong site, or leaving a surgical instrument inside the patient at the end of a surgery. There are many types of actionable medical malpractice surrounding surgeries;
• Prescription Drug Mistakes – Doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and other medical providers may commit errors in prescribing medication, whether prescribing the wrong drug altogether or directing the use of the wrong dose, administering the drug improperly in a medical facility or during a home visit, or filling a prescription incorrectly. These errors can have serious consequences, including situations where a person who gets the wrong drug, which does not treat the condition that they have and has serious, unanticipated side-effects, or receives a dose that does not treat the condition or over-medicates the individual. In some cases, medical professionals may fail to obtain a proper history in order to determine what drug interactions may be a danger. In addition, there may be serious errors made with the compounding of the drugs, where contaminants are incorporated into a particular medication. There have been many very serious cases of medical malpractice involving prescription drugs in recent years; and
• Cosmetic Surgery Errors – Many people decide to have elective surgery every day in order to look and feel better. In most cases, the procedures are completed without negative consequences. However, when these surgeries do not meet the reasonableness standards that apply to negligence cases, it is critical to have the right legal representation in order to recover compensation for the harm done because of the complexities involved with these types of cases. Cosmetic procedures often are deemed elective and not covered by health insurance in many situations. In addition, there are long-held prejudices against cosmetic surgery, so it is difficult to convince juries to award adequate compensation to those who have suffered because of medical malpractice. It is crucial to have a skilled medical malpractice attorney who knows how to present the best case possible.

Stern Law, PLLC Fights for Those Harmed Through a Doctor’s Mistake

Medical malpractice takes many different forms, but when the mistake leads to serious, long-term harm, the victim and his or her family needs help to begin the recovery process. At Stern Law, PLLC, we know how much harm can be done when doctors and other medical professionals make serious errors. For more than 30 years, we have worked tirelessly for the benefit of our clients. In addition to representing our clients skillfully and tenaciously, we also prioritize acting as a resource for those who have been impacted by medical malpractice. We have people available to answer questions 24 hours a day, seven days a week for anyone who has a question or concern. 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.