5 Common Types of Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice tends to have long-lasting effects that can derail a victim’s future. While every medical malpractice claim comes with its own set of unique circumstances, most cases fall into one of five common categories. If you or someone you love has been harmed by medical malpractice, don’t delay consulting with an experienced Illinois medical malpractice attorney.
Incorrect or Delayed Diagnosis
CNN Health reports that almost 6 percent of the estimated 130 million patients who seek care in emergency rooms each year are misdiagnosed. This translates to 2.6 million people suffering preventable harm, while another 370,000 are permanently disabled or suffer fatal injuries. In other words, misdiagnosis is a primary form of medical malpractice throughout the country.
Illnesses and Injuries that Go Untreated
When medical professionals fail to order the tests that their patients need, injuries and illnesses can go undiagnosed and untreated. When a patient’s concerns are brushed off or blatantly ignored, it can lead to early discharge and failure to adequately treat the underlying health concern, and it can rise to the level of malpractice.
Surgical Errors
Surgical errors can run the gamut from leaving a medical tool in a patient’s body to performing the wrong surgery or performing the right surgery on the wrong body part, and they are generally caused by a failure to carefully follow the safety protocols that are in place. The American College of Surgeons reports that wrong-site surgeries rank second in terms of medical malpractice that causes serious harm or death.
Drug Errors
Drugs often save lives, and millions are prescribed every year in this country. When a patient is prescribed the wrong medication or the wrong dosage, however, it can lead to very dangerous results that may qualify as malpractice.
Childbirth Injuries
Medical errors in relation to pregnancy, the birth process, or the aftermath of the birth process can lead to catastrophic results. Some of the most common concerns related to childbirth injuries include the following:
- Inadequate or substandard prenatal care
- The improper or excessively aggressive use of forceps or another form of force during delivery
- Failure to identify or adequately address fetal distress
- Failure to perform a C-section when medically necessary
- Failure to safely address an umbilical cord that’s wrapped around a baby’s neck, mouth, or nose
Dropping, shaking, or handling the baby too roughly during delivery can also be a form of medical malpractice.
Discuss Your Claim with an Experienced Illinois Medical Malpractice Attorney Today
The accomplished Illinois medical malpractice attorneys at Cook, Bartholomew, Shevlin, Cook & Jones, LLP, recognize the urgency of medical malpractice claims like yours and are committed to fiercely advocating for every claim’s most favorable resolution. The outcome of your claim will play a critical role in your ability to reach your most complete recovery, and we encourage you to reach out and contact or call us at 618-353-0538 for more information about what we can do to help today.