Common Medical Mistakes | Medical Malpractice

January 2, 2018

Medical malpractice can occur in every field of medicine, can involve the negligence of medical staff or the hospital, and can result in victims suffering serious injuries or death.

If you believe you have suffered a medical malpractice injury, do not hesitate to schedule a free, no obligation consultation. We will review and investigate your claim to find out if you have a case that entitles you to compensation.

Below, the Phillips Law Group’s experienced medical malpractice attorneys in Phoenix discuss some of the most common medical mistakes that could lead to malpractice.

Misdiagnosis or Delayed Diagnosis

Unfortunately, many medical malpractice cases occur from misdiagnosing a patient or failing to diagnose a patient until the illness or condition has progressed.

In many cases, one illness may present symptoms that are similar to symptoms of another condition. Likewise, certain ailments may remain undetected because the treating physician neglected to check the patient for additional symptoms.

To support a misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis claim, you must demonstrate how the treating physician committed an error and that another physician with similar skills would have avoided the mistake in the same situation.

Childbirth Injuries

Childbirth injuries cover any injury to a fetus, baby or mother over the course of a pregnancy, from prenatal care through childbirth, that were caused by a medical professional’s negligence.

During the prenatal care period, the time before the baby’s birth, common medical malpractice errors often include the failure to identify conditions such as:

• When a fertilized egg implants outside the uterus (ectopic pregnancy)
• Diseases that may be contagious to the baby
• A medical condition suffered by the mother that may affect the pregnancy or childbirth
• Birth defects

A newborn child or mother may suffer an injury during childbirth due to a physician’s oversight or failure to respond to the following scenarios:

• Birth complications caused by umbilical cord tangles or the baby’s large size
• Neglecting to notice signs of fetal distress
• Failing to order a cesarean section at the time it became medically necessary
• Incompetent use of forceps or a vacuum extractor

Medication Errors

Mistakes related to prescribing or administering medication can cause serious harm to patients. Some common causes of medication errors include:

• Administering the wrong dosage or type of medication
• Prescribing the wrong dose
• Prescribing a medication that interacts dangerously with another medication prescribed to the patient
• Malfunction of the device administering the drug

Anesthesia Errors

Anesthesia errors are very dangerous, as even small errors can cause permanent injuries, brain damage, or death. Anesthesia-related errors include:

• Failing to investigate the patient’s medical history and identify potential complications with anesthesia
• Neglecting to inform the patient of risks of not following preoperative instructions, such as not eating prior to surgery
• Administering too much anesthesia during an operation
• Neglecting to monitor the patient’s vital signs during an operation
• Improperly inserting tubes into a patient’s airways to ensure they are getting the oxygen they need (intubation errors)
• Defective anesthesia equipment

Surgical Errors

Surgical errors can occur in many forms while an operation takes place, and are often caused by poor communication between the surgeon and supporting medical staff. Common surgical errors include:

Contact a Phoenix Medical Malpractice Lawyer Now

If you were injured because of a medical practitioner’s negligence, the Phillips Law Group’s medical malpractice attorneys will fight for the compensation you deserve. We will work to hold the negligent medical professionals or facilities accountable for the pain and suffering you have endured.

To find out if you may be entitled to a malpractice lawsuit, contact us to schedule a free, no obligation consultation with a member of our personal injury team. We work on a contingency fee basis and only charge legal fees if we recover compensation for you.

Fill out ourFree Case Evaluation form to get started.