Medical malpractice may seem pretty common, but thankfully, most doctors, nurses, and hospitals follow the guidelines of their profession pretty well. They may make mistakes, but those mistakes are generally not due to negligence.
Nevertheless, when medical malpractice does occur, the following are some of its most common forms:
Incorrect Diagnoses
Suppose that you go to the doctor with an unknown ailment. They diagnose you with some minor ailment, and you feel a rush of relief, knowing you don’t have to worry that you are in danger.
That comfort, however, disappears in a moment if you suddenly suffer something like a heart attack or an aneurysm because the doctor misdiagnosed your condition as something far less serious. And when that happens out of negligence, you can sue the doctor for costs that arose from that initial, incorrect diagnosis.
Improper Treatments
If you have been inaccurately diagnosed, you may also be incorrectly treated as a result. That can be particularly problematic when your treatment causes problems that wouldn’t have occurred otherwise. In the worst-case scenario, you might receive unnecessary surgery.
Improper treatment doesn’t always occur because of an inaccurate diagnosis, though. Some patients receive the wrong treatment when a hospital worker incorrectly reads a chart or when a medical professional cuts corners to save money.
Birth Injuries
The birth of a child should be a joyous occasion. But that joy may quickly turn to horror if your child suffers a birth injury due to the negligence of medical personnel. Birth injuries can be caused by doctors, nurses, or other medical professionals, and they often cause lifelong disabilities that will require treatment and therapy.
Thankfully, most states give victims of birth injuries until shortly after their 18th birthday to file a medical malpractice lawsuit. That gives the injured party much more time to fully identify the repercussions and costs associated with their injuries.
Surgical Errors
Surgeons are some of the best-trained doctors around, but they’re still human, meaning even they can make mistakes, especially if they perform surgery while tired or in a rush. Some common mistakes made during surgery include removing the wrong tissue or leaving surgical equipment inside the patient’s body.
Unfortunately, these errors are often not immediately obvious to the patient, given that they’re unconscious during the procedure. Even worse, though, is that the victim will usually require additional surgery to correct the error, which is usually extremely costly.
Not Gaining Informed Consent
Before a doctor treats you, they are required to get your consent. There are exceptions to the rule, but they only arise in extreme circumstances, and most doctors will do everything possible to get your verbal permission to proceed.
Unfortunately, some doctors skip this step because they put their opinions above those of their patients, and when that happens, you could receive some type of treatment or procedure that you never would have agreed to. These behaviors are frankly worse than negligent. They are often reckless, and some juries will award additional damages when a doctor behaves in such a way.
Understand Your Rights if You Have Been the Victim of Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice isn’t caused by a simple mistake. It happens when a medical professional recklessly or negligently ignores the rules of their profession and doesn’t appropriately protect the health of their patients. While uncommon, the consequences can be life-altering.
If you believe you were the victim of medical malpractice in Nassau County, NY, you should contact a personal injury lawyer like those at Kohan Law Group as soon as possible. An experienced attorney can help you find a doctor you can trust and may help you get compensation for the harm you’ve suffered.