Some of the most troubling cases seen by a Personal Injury Lawyer in Douglasville GA involve medical malpractice. These cases can have devastating lifelong consequences for the victims and their loved ones. Medical malpractice cases are normally very complex, involving both medical and legal issues.
Misdiagnosis is the Most Common Cause of Medical Malpractice for Outpatients
A missed or erroneous diagnosis is the most common cause of medical malpractice claims for outpatients. The TV show House revolved around mysterious ailments that were misdiagnosed by all doctors except Dr. House. In real life, if no doctor except a world-famous specialist would have been able to correctly diagnose a patient’s problem, it would be difficult to pursue a medical malpractice claim against all of the doctors who couldn’t figure it out.
However, if other reasonably competent and skilled doctors would have been able to correct diagnose the patient’s illness, then a case for medical malpractice may well exist. Did the doctor not order the tests that other doctors would have? Did the doctor ignore the patient’s symptoms or not perform a physical examination? The diseases most commonly misdiagnosed are cancer and heart attacks, both having potentially life-threatening consequences.
Surgical Errors and Problems with Anesthesia can Injure Patients in the Hospital
Surgical errors are responsible for about 33% of all inpatient medical malpractice claims. These cases can be as horrendous as amputating the wrong limb or surgical instruments forgotten and left in the body. Many cases of surgical errors are preventable, such as surgery performed on the wrong patient or on the wrong place on the right patient. The use of unsanitary surgical equipment can result in catastrophic infections, such as the antibiotic-resistant MRSA. Damage to nerves or organs can also be a result of poorly performed surgery.
Patients normally have little contact with the anesthetist who will be present at their surgery. However, if the anesthetist is not aware of the patient’s medical history or does not constantly monitor the patient then the patient’s condition can quickly become critical, possibly resulting in brain death or damage.
There are many possible causes of medical malpractice, including errors relating to childbirth and medications. If you believe that your healthcare provider caused you an injury, contact Diane M. Sternlieb. She is both a registered nurse and a Personal Injury Lawyer in Douglasville GA giving her a unique perspective on medical malpractice cases. To contact Ms. Sternlieb, visit Dsternlieblaw.com.
