Common Types of Medical Malpractice Cases
Medical malpractice occurs when a medical professional causes injury to a patient as a result of an error that should not have been made. Not all medical errors are the fault of medical professionals.When complications arise that could not have been foreseen, or as a result of the patient withholding important information, a medical error would not be considered malpractice. Medical malpractice is limited to injury caused by medical errors which the patient could reasonably argue should not have occurred. Medical negligence occurs when a patient is injured because a medical professional failed to take action in a timely manner. Medical negligence may include failure to run the proper diagnostic tests or failure to treat a specific illness or injury. Failure to Diagnose Failures to diagnose serious ailments can result in long-term and even fatal health problems that may have been avoided if diagnosed early and properly treated. A failure to diagnose may be a result of negligence on the part of a doctor, or a lab that processes diagnostic tests. Misdiagnosis Patients who are misdiagnosed with a disease can have complex medical issues to untangle. They can suffer injury and even death from their actual ailment being untreated, as well as from prescribed medications and treatments intended to treat the ailment they do not have. Misdiagnosis can also result in emotional trauma, particularly for those people who have been misdiagnosed with a fatal illness such as cancer. Victims of misdiagnosis can suffer severe emotional and mental distress. A high-quality medical malpractice attorney will do everything possible to make sure you are fully compensated for your injuries. Medication Errors Medication errors can have serious long-term health consequences and possibly cause death. Some medication errors can be the result of a misdiagnosis, whereas others involve either the prescription of a drug that interacts negatively with other drugs the patient is known to be taking, the administration of a drug the patient is known to be allergic to, or the overdosing or under-dosing of a drug. Medical Device Malfunctions Medical devices include surgical instruments, monitoring equipment and implanted devices such as pacemakers and medication pumps. The first step in investigating the facts of your claim is to determine whether the medical device was mishandled by medical personnel or whether the device itself is a defective product. Contact Our Medical Malpractice Attorneys in Salt Lake City If you have suffered as a result of medical malpractice or negligence, you need an attorney. The lawyers of patientinjury.com provide representation to those located in Utah and throughout the country. We can help you get the compensation you are entitled to in order to reduce the financial stress your injuries have caused.