Types of Malpractice
The concept of medical malpractice negligence is very broad and encompasses virtually every kind of mistake that could be made by a medical professional. The most common cases brought against doctors are:
- improper diagnosis
- failure to diagnose
- medication errors
- surgical errors such as a slip of the knife severing a nerve during an operation
- medical instruments, sponges, needles or other foreign objects dropped inside a patient and left there after surgery
- errors in prenatal diagnostic testing
- failure to advise of diagnosis
- lack of informed consent
- abandonment (failure to attend to a patient)
- improperly prescribing a drug
- failing to inform the patient of available treatments
- continuing a treatment that has been shown to be ineffective
- below standard treatment or incorrectly performed treatment
A doctor has a duty to you to use care and diligence to diagnose your illness so that the proper treatment can be recommended. In order to properly diagnose a condition, a doctor should ask about a patient's medical history as well as his or her family's medical history. The doctor also should ask for a detailed description of current symptoms and should perform a thorough examination which includes necessary diagnostic tests.
Example: After hurting your wrist you go to your family doctor, but he concludes it is just a sprain and doesn't request an X-ray, which would have revealed a fracture. The fracture goes undetected and, as a result, a permanent and debilitating injury to your wrist results. The doctor may be negligent for failing to order an X-ray, or possibly for not referring you to an orthopedist.
Doctors also have a duty to disclose information pertaining to the treatment you will receive. If your condition is such that it is beyond the scope of practice of the examining doctor, or beyond the doctor's expertise, he or she must refer you to a specialist. If your doctor fails to follow these basic principles, and injury is caused as a result, you may have a case for a malpractice claim.
Medical malpractice can occur at any point in the diagnosis and treatment course. For example, the wrong chart could be placed at your hospital bedside, resulting in you being given medication that you are allergic to that causes serious harm or even death.
If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of possible medical malpractice, call Littman & Babiarz, Attorneys at Law now at 607-277-7527 or CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT A SIMPLE CASE FORM. The initial consultation is free of charge, and if we agree to accept your case, we will work on a contingent fee basis, which means we get paid for our services only if there is a monetary award or recovery of funds. Don't delay! You may have a valid claim and be entitled to compensation for your injuries, but a lawsuit must be filed before the statute of limitations expires.
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The information you obtain at this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. You should consult an attorney for individual advice regarding your own situation.
