4 Common Examples of Medical Negligence

We trust our doctors implicitly. We expect them to listen to our concerns, understand our medical needs, and provide effective treatments. Unfortunately, medical negligence is alarmingly common in the United States, and a small error by a physician can have devastating consequences.

According to a study by Johns Hopkins University, medical mistakes may be the third leading cause of death in the United States – killing more people than unintentional injuries, strokes and respiratory disease. Every year, more than 250,000 patients die due to health-care errors.

If you were injured or lost a family member due to a negligent doctor, nurse or pharmacist, contact the The Bowling Christiansen Law Firm. David A. Bowling is a medical malpractice attorney in New Orleans who will evaluate your case to determine if you have grounds for a claim.

Mr. Bowling will help you fight for compensation to cover the medical bills, lost wages and other damages related to the medical error. He has more than 30 years of trial experience. Call (504) 586-5200 to schedule a consultation.

What Are the 4 Most Common Forms of Medical Malpractice?

It’s easy to associate medical errors with surgical horror stories, but malpractice takes many forms. The defendants in these cases could be doctors, nurses, pharmacists or other health-care workers.

Although there are many types of medical malpractice, most cases involve one of these errors:

1. Diagnosis Errors

Doctors work long hours, and fatigue can easily lead to an oversight that causes a misdiagnosis. As a result, the patient’s condition can worsen while it is left untreated. Sometimes doctors treat the wrong condition, and patients suffer medication side effects, unnecessary surgical scarring and other consequences.

2. Medication Errors

A medication mistake can also cause a patient’s condition to worsen or lead to severe side effects. These errors often happen when pharmacists mix up the names of two patients or two drugs. Sometimes a doctor’s handwriting is difficult to read and the pharmacist distributes the wrong medication or incorrect dosage.

3. Anesthesia Errors

There’s a reason why anesthesiologists are among the highest-paid medical professionals: A small mistake can be deadly. Sometimes anesthesiologists do not deliver enough anesthesia, which causes patients to wake up during invasive surgeries.

4. Surgical Errors

Despite advancements in surgical tools and techniques, mistakes still happen. One of the most common types of surgical errors is leaving a sponge or another instrument inside a patient. This can cause a deadly infection and other serious complications. In rare cases, surgeons amputate the wrong limb or remove the wrong organ due to a communication failure.

If you were injured by a negligent health-care worker, contact the The Bowling Christiansen Law Firm. David A. Bowling is a medical malpractice attorney in Louisiana who will compassionately and aggressively represent your interests.

The Bowling Christiansen Law Firm is AV-rated under Martindale-Hubbell’s peer review rating system. Call (504) 586-5200 today to schedule a consultation.