Unfortunately, medical malpractice occurs far too often in the United States. It may shock you to learn that medical mistakes have attained the unenviable position as the second leading cause of US deaths.
As a medical malpractice lawyer from a firm like Pioletti Pioletti & Nichols can explain, medical malpractice can occur virtually anywhere that healthcare professionals work. For instance, medical mistakes can happen in all of the following:
- Emergency room
- Intensive care unit
- Surgical suite
- Labor and delivery room
- Doctor’s office
- Dentist’s office
- Urgent care center
- Pharmacy
- Lab
Types of Medical Malpractice
The types of medical malpractice are almost as numerous as the places where it can occur. Common medical malpractice types include the following:
- Failure to diagnose
- Misdiagnosis
- Failure to take a proper history
- Failure to perform a proper physical examination
- Failure to properly test
- Failure to properly analyze test results
- Surgical errors
- Anesthesia errors
- Medication errors
- Premature emergency room or hospital discharge
- Failure to fully warn you of the possible side effects of recommended procedures or medications
- Failure to obtain your informed consent
- Failure to properly monitor you and your progress
- Failure to take your complaints seriously
- Failure to provide you adequate medical care
Medical Malpractice Costs
It goes without saying that medical malpractice can cause you serious injury. Not only may you become sicker than you were before you sought the advice of your health care professional, but a medical error can also require surgery or additional surgery to mitigate or correct. Furthermore, if you have a bad reaction to a prescription drug, this could put your life in danger. If the malpractice occurs in the labor and delivery room, your child could sustain a birth injury that may result in a lifetime of problems.
Your medical bills likely will skyrocket if you or your child suffers a medical malpractice injury. Keep in mind that these medical expenses could continue far into the future depending on the nature and extent of the injury. In addition, they may cost you your livelihood if they result in a permanent disability that prevents you from working.
Medical Malpractice Lawsuit
Your best strategy for covering these costs is to hire an experienced local personal injury lawyer as soon as possible after the medical malpractice occurs. Search for local personal injury attorneys in your area who have outstanding records of obtaining large settlements and jury awards in medical malpractice lawsuits. You should be able to get this information from their web sites. You may also be able to peruse the comments made by their former clients.