Medical malpractice cases can happen whenever a patient is harmed by a nurse, doctor or other medical professional who does not provide a general standard of care with regard to health treatment. Although mistakes may happen in a relatively small number of cases, the errors can leave patients with significant pain and complication for years to come. What follows are some of the most common instances of medical malpractice that influence individuals in Delaware County and across Pennsylvania today.
Delayed Diagnosis or Misdiagnosis
A large majority of medical malpractice complaints in Pennsylvania are associated with acts of delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis. When the doctor fails to diagnose your condition properly, you might miss out on treatment opportunities that could address or eliminate your existing medical concern. The key element in cases like this is showing what the doctor did or didn’t do that another doctor would have done.
Birth Injuries
Many types of fetal injuries can be caused by incidence of medical malpractice including fractured bones, Klumpke’s palsy, Erb’s palsy, and many others. Depending on the injury sustained, you may have a claim against a doctor or another medical professional involved in the labor and delivery process. Some of the most common reasons for birth injuries during labor and delivery are:
- Failure to identify birth defects
- Improper use of forceps
- Mistakes made in anesthesia can compromise a patient’s life. Even small errors on the part of the delivery room staff could lead to brain damage, permanent injuries, or even death.
Medication Errors
When you are prescribed a medication and follow the instructions for taking it, you expect that it’s going to improve your health. There are, unfortunately, many ways in which a medication error could compromise your health or even your life.
- The prescription is correct but the equipment used to administer the medication malfunctions, causing too much medication to be given to the patient.
- The doctor writes the improper dosage on the prescription, confusing the pharmacist and/or the patient. If the patient takes the medication as prescribed, he or she could be subject to numerous serious side effects.
- injured patients including operating on the wrong body part, puncturing internal organs , and leaving surgical supplies behind. Surgeons and staff could also be held responsible for failure to administer appropriate post-operative care, too.
If you have been injured in an incident like this, it is vital that you speak with a Philadelphia medical malpractice attorney right away. Understanding all of the relevant issues in your case and determining your next course of action can be critical for your future.