Common Examples of Medical Malpractice
Patients sometimes think that medical malpractice involves any injury that occurs to a patient in a hospital setting. However, that is not the case. To establish medical malpractice, a plaintiff must prove that a doctor deviated from the prevailing standard of care for the profession. This tends to be different depending on what type of medical malpractice is being alleged. Each case is different.
Birth injury and medical malpractice
In Georgia, the parents of a child injured during childbirth may be able to recover damages related to past medical expenses, future medical expenses, and pain and suffering damages. Birth injuries commonly occur when doctors fail to monitor signs of fetal distress in a pregnant patient. The child is born with a number of conditions that limit their earning capacity. The parents are often required to pay for a lifetime of treatment. In some cases, the child may not be able to walk or talk.
Diagnostic errors
Diagnostic errors occur when a doctor fails to consider the proper diagnosis of a patient. They may treat the patient for a different condition or recommend no treatment when treatment is required. In some cases, a patient may be able to sue for a delayed diagnosis. In cases where the diagnosis is delayed, the patient may suffer a worse outcome than they would have had the condition been diagnosed earlier. Diagnostic errors are among the most common causes of medical malpractice.
Medication and prescription errors
Medication and prescription errors occur when a doctor orders medication for a patient and the patient has an adverse response to the medication. The patient must be able to establish that some form of negligence occurred. This can include prescribing a medication that the patient is allergic to or failing to recognize key complications once a medication has been started.
Surgical errors
Surgical errors occur for a number of reasons. While mistakes can happen during surgery, a doctor must recognize the mistake and fix it before the patient is closed up. In some cases, infection will set in causing the patient to become injured or even die. A surgeon would be expected to recognize the problem and fix it. In cases where a surgeon fails to properly conduct their surgery, a plaintiff may be able to sue for medical malpractice.
Nursing home negligence
Nursing home negligence occurs in the context of nursing homes. Often patients are left unattended due to understaffing and suffer severe consequences as a result of neglect. This can include bed sores, a failure to prescribe medication as needed, and a failure to respond to a patient’s worsening condition. In cases where a patient is injured or killed due to medical neglect, the family or the patient may be able to file a medical malpractice lawsuit to recover damages.
Talk to an Atlanta, GA Medical Malpractice Lawyer Today
The Moses Law Firm represents the interests of Atlanta plaintiffs who have been injured due to the negligent practice of medicine. Call our Atlanta medical malpractice lawyers today to schedule a free consultation and we can begin discussing your options immediately.
