The Journal of the American Medical Association states that, in addition to cancer and heart disease, medical malpractice is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. It has been estimated that around 98,000 people faint each year after sustaining injuries from different forms of medical malpractice.

Alarming, right?

Now, are you aware that when you can consider yourself a potential victim of medical malpractice and you can sue your doctor? Medical malpractice occurs when a health care expert deviates from the established “standard of care” while treating a patient, causing injury or harm to the person. This act of negligence can occur as a result of errors in diagnosis, treatment, health management, or aftercare.

In this article, you’ll get an overview of the different types of medical errors made by healthcare professionals. It will help you determine under what circumstances you may be considered a victim of medical malpractice.

Misdiagnosis or late diagnosis

The delay in diagnosis or inadequate treatment are counted as one of the main causes of complaints for medical malpractice. When a medical professional fails to diagnose a specific health condition or disease, the patient suffers considerably and sometimes even causes death. Now, to prove a medical malpractice claim based on late diagnosis or improper treatment, you will need to prove your doctor’s incompetence in handling your case. If a competent and skilled physician in the same specialty would not have made the diagnostic error in similar circumstances, then his treating physician is liable for negligence.

birth injuries

A large percentage of fetal injuries are caused by negligence in diagnosis. Includes brain injuries such as seizure disorders and cerebral palsy. Bone fracture or Klumpke’s palsy that causes damage to the nerves that control the hands and arms are other common birth injuries. However, these injuries are not only caused by the doctor’s negligence during delivery, but also by negligence during prenatal care.

Take note of common examples of negligent prenatal care that doctors often do:

· Do not diagnose any specific medical condition of the mother, such as preeclampsia, hypoglycemia, Rh incompatibility and other diseases.

· Do not identify any complications of delivery due to the large size of the baby or the entangled umbilical cord.

Failure to identify signs of fetal distress.

Lack of treatment of any disease that could be contagious to the fetus.

anesthesia errors

Anesthesia errors are very dangerous, and even a minor mistake on the part of the anesthesiologist can lead to brain damage, permanent injury, or even death. Keep in mind that an anesthesiologist is subject to medical negligence even before performing anesthesia, such as failing to do proper research into the medical history of the patient in question to anticipate potential complications.

surgery errors

A number of medical malpractice claims also arise from errors that occur in the operating room. The surgeon may make mistakes in performing the surgery itself, such as operating on the wrong body part or leaving surgical instruments inside the patient’s body.

medication errors

A recent study has revealed that around 1.5 million people in the US suffer due to medication error. This can occur in a number of ways, from the initial prescription to the prescription of medications. The most common medication errors involve prescribing the wrong or wrong dosage of the medication to the patient.

These are some common types of medical malpractice committed by doctors and you can always claim compensation from your healthcare provider in such circumstances. However, to get the best settlement possible, it is always recommended to contact a competent medical malpractice lawyer, as the process of pursuing a successful claim is quite stressful and time consuming. Attorneys specializing in this field will deal with insurance companies effectively to increase the settlement value of your claim. Therefore, contact experienced law firms for effective representation of your case.