What Are the Common Types of Medical Malpractice Cases?

Medical malpractice is a serious issue that can lead to devastating consequences for patients. When a healthcare provider fails to meet the standard of care, the result can be significant harm, long-term health issues, and financial hardship for the patient. Understanding the most common types of medical malpractice cases can help individuals recognize when they might have a valid claim. In this blog, we’ll explore the different forms of medical malpractice and how they impact patients.

Misdiagnosis or Delayed Diagnosis

Misdiagnosis is one of the most common types of medical malpractice. It occurs when a healthcare professional either incorrectly identifies a condition or fails to diagnose it altogether. In both cases, the patient may not receive the appropriate treatment, which can lead to the worsening of the condition. Common examples of misdiagnosis include:

Diagnosing cancer as a benign condition, leading to delayed treatment.
Failing to recognize symptoms of a heart attack or stroke.
Misinterpreting lab results or imaging scans, leading to an incorrect diagnosis.

Delayed diagnosis, on the other hand, happens when a healthcare provider takes too long to identify a condition, preventing timely intervention. Both misdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis can have serious consequences for the patient’s health and increase the risk of complications or even death.

Surgical Errors

Surgical errors are another form of medical malpractice that can lead to significant harm. These errors can occur during any stage of surgery, from preparation to recovery. Common examples include:

Operating on the wrong body part or performing the wrong procedure (known as "wrong-site surgery").
Leaving surgical instruments or materials inside the patient’s body after the procedure.
Inadequate monitoring during surgery leading to complications such as infection or anesthesia errors.

Surgical errors often result in additional surgeries, prolonged recovery times, and serious health complications, making them one of the most severe types of malpractice.

Medication Errors

Medication errors can happen in any stage of the prescribing, dispensing, or administering process. These errors can lead to severe injuries, including overdose, allergic reactions, or harmful drug interactions. Common medication errors include:

Prescribing the wrong medication or dosage.
Failing to check for dangerous drug interactions.
Administering the wrong medication or failing to monitor the patient’s reaction.

These errors can have serious consequences, including long-term health problems, hospitalization, and even death. Patients should always be vigilant when it comes to their medications and ask their healthcare providers about potential risks.

Birth Injuries

Birth injuries are a type of medical malpractice that can occur during labor and delivery, causing harm to the baby or mother. These injuries can be the result of medical negligence on the part of doctors, nurses, or hospital staff. Some common birth injuries include:

Cerebral palsy caused by lack of oxygen during birth.
Erb's palsy from improper use of forceps or excessive pulling during delivery.
Brain injuries or fractures from traumatic delivery methods.

In many cases, birth injuries could have been prevented with proper care, and parents may have a legal claim if medical negligence is involved.

Anesthesia Errors

Anesthesia errors occur when an anesthesiologist makes a mistake during the administration of anesthesia, leading to serious complications. These errors can range from under- or over-sedation to more severe issues like an allergic reaction or anesthesia awareness. Common anesthesia errors include:

Administering too much or too little anesthesia, causing the patient to be either too awake or too sedated during surgery.
Failing to monitor the patient’s vital signs during the procedure, leading to respiratory failure or other issues.
Not reviewing the patient’s medical history properly, increasing the risk of an adverse reaction to the anesthesia.

Anesthesia errors can lead to permanent damage, cognitive issues, and in the worst cases, death.

Failure to Follow Up or Monitor

Healthcare providers are responsible for ensuring that their patients receive proper follow-up care after treatment. This includes monitoring patients for complications, addressing any new symptoms, and providing timely referrals to specialists when necessary. Failure to follow up or monitor a patient can lead to severe consequences, such as:

Complications that worsen due to a lack of timely treatment.
A missed opportunity to diagnose a developing condition.
The patient not receiving the proper care they need to recover fully.

In cases where a healthcare provider neglects to follow up or monitor a patient, it could be considered malpractice.

Nursing Home Negligence

Nursing home negligence is another form of medical malpractice that affects vulnerable populations, particularly the elderly. Healthcare providers in nursing homes have a duty to provide appropriate care to residents. Examples of nursing home negligence include:

Failing to prevent falls or accidents.
Administering incorrect medications or neglecting to give prescribed medications.
Allowing neglectful care that leads to bedsores, infections, or malnutrition.

Nursing home negligence can severely impact the health and well-being of elderly patients, often leading to physical harm or death.

Contact Our Medical Malpractice Lawyers Near You

Medical malpractice can take many forms, from misdiagnosis to surgical errors and medication mistakes. When healthcare providers fail to meet the expected standard of care, the consequences for patients can be devastating. If you believe you’ve been the victim of medical malpractice, it’s essential to understand your rights and seek legal counsel to explore your options. A skilled medical malpractice lawyer can help you pursue justice and compensation for any harm caused by negligence.

Call (860) 245-2412 or schedule a consultation online with one of our experienced medical malpractice lawyers near you today to discuss your situation.