Types of Medical Malpractice

Medical malpractice is the failure of a physician to provide adequate medical care, resulting in an injury to a patient. A physician who fails to treat a patient adequately will be held liable for their injuries.

Medical malpractice can occur in any area of medicine, including obstetrics and gynecology, cardiology, family practice, internal medicine, pediatrics, or surgery. For a patient to recover compensation for medical malpractice, they must prove that the doctor failed to perform their duty as required by law. In this case, you will need the intervention of a Chicago malpractice attorney. 

Here are the different types of medical malpractice

Types of Medical Malpractice

Misdiagnoses

Misdiagnoses are one of the most common types of medical malpractice. Doctors miss diagnosing a condition or misread the results of X-rays and other tests.

For example, a patient with chest pain or shortness of breath may be sent home without being properly evaluated by a doctor. Some doctors also fail to perform tests such as blood tests or CT scans that would have revealed the presence of cancer. In some cases, physicians may misdiagnose mental health problems as physical ailments.

Delayed diagnoses

Patients can suffer medical complications if their doctors or hospitals do not diagnose their condition quickly enough. According to the American Medical Association, an estimated 1.5 million people die each year from preventable causes because they did not seek treatment in time. The delay may be due to misdiagnosis, failure to recognize the signs of a severe illness, lack of communication between healthcare professionals, lack of access to needed resources, and other factors.

Negligent Failure to offer appropriate treatment 

Negligent failure to treat is the failure of a healthcare provider to provide appropriate treatment. The consequences of a negligent failure to treat can range from mild to severe and may include injury, death, or severe disability. The patient may be harmed by the delay in diagnosis and treatment, leading to more severe injury or death.

Surgical malpractice

A medical malpractice suit is often filed against a surgeon who has performed an unnecessary surgery or a surgery that was not in the patient’s best interest. A surgical malpractice lawsuit may also be filed against a surgeon if there was a failure to diagnose or treat a condition that would have been easily treatable with less invasive treatment. The plaintiff will have to prove that the surgeon’s negligence caused them injury, which can be challenging to do in cases of severe damage and permanent disability.

Birth Injuries

Birth injuries are the most common type of medical malpractice claim. These claims center on allegations that a doctor or other medical professional failed to properly care for a woman during pregnancy, childbirth, or postpartum. It can be difficult for plaintiffs to prove these claims, as there are often no witnesses, and many aspects of the procedures involved in birth are not visible. However, if you believe that your doctor or other medical professional has acted negligently during this time, you may have grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit.

Defective medical devices

Defective medical devices do not meet the expected safety, effectiveness, and quality standards. They can be designed due to a mistake or error in the manufacturing process or poor quality control. These defects can lead to severe injury or even the death of a patient.

Defective drugs

Drugs are often made from natural substances, such as herbs and plants, which can cause allergic reactions in some patients. In other cases, drugs are manufactured using improper procedures or unsafe materials during production. This can result in serious side effects or even death for patients who take these medications without knowing their effects on their health.

Cancer misdiagnosis

Cancer misdiagnosis is the most common type of medical malpractice. Cancer is often misdiagnosed because of a lack of familiarity with the disease, incomplete or inaccurate laboratory testing, or failure to recognize symptoms that are actually related to cancer. Cancer patients may also be prescribed treatments that do not affect their condition or may cause severe side effects. Cancer patients who have been misdiagnosed and treated with ineffective or harmful therapy are entitled to compensation for their losses.

Bedsores

Bedsores are the most common type of medical malpractice. Bedsores occur when a patient sits or lies in an uncomfortable or painful position. They can occur when patients are confined to bed, and they can also happen when they are ambulatory.

The most common bedsores on hospital beds include pressure ulcers, decubitus ulcers, and skin breakdowns. Decubitus ulcers occur when there is pressure between the skin and underlying tissue for days at a time, causing the tissue to die off. Pressure ulcers can be detected by doctors with regular exams but not necessarily treated because it is difficult to determine if you have one without x-rays or surgery. Skin breakdowns are caused by friction from clothing against your skin, such as those worn during hospital stays or while sleeping.

Dental mistakes

Dental mistakes are considered a form of medical malpractice. Dental errors include anything from infection to misdiagnosis. If you have suffered a dental injury due to a doctor’s error, you may be able to file a medical malpractice claim against the doctor or dentist. While many dental errors are extremely rare, patients must know their rights when filing medical malpractice claims against dentists and other dental professionals.

Anesthesia errors

Anesthesia errors are one of the most common causes of malpractice claims. Anesthesiologists oversee the care of patients during surgery, and they must be able to perform the duties in a way that will minimize risk. When anesthesiologists make mistakes, they may cause injuries or death to patients.

A patient injured because of anesthesiologists’ negligence can file a claim against them for damages. In some cases, victims may be able to recover compensation from their medical providers if they were injured by medication errors made by doctors or nurses.

Key Takeaway

You may be entitled to compensation if you or a loved one has suffered injuries due to medical malpractice. Medical malpractice can occur when the doctor fails to diagnose and treat an injury or illness properly. This type of negligence can lead to severe complications, such as permanent disability and even death. Medical malpractice cases are often complex, so it is crucial to hire an attorney with experience handling these types of cases. Entering a case against a doctor involves more than just filing a lawsuit. You must provide evidence that the doctor’s negligence caused your injuries. If you believe your injuries were caused by medical malpractice, do not wait until it is too late. Hiring an attorney as soon as possible is crucial in getting the compensation you deserve for your injuries and pain suffering.