Medical malpractice can apply to a wide range of situations.
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Medical malpractice is a broad term that describes situations where a doctor or medical professional fails to uphold the standard of care and injury or sickness results. Victims have experienced countless instances of medical malpractice, and millions of dollars get paid out each year in settlements and judgments.
Medical malpractice can take many forms. If you believe you have been a victim of medical malpractice, contact an attorney from Newsome | Melton right away to discuss your options for seeking damages. Keep in mind that each state has a statute of limitations restricting how much time you have to file a lawsuit. By taking action, hiring an attorney, and getting the process in motion, you can avoid letting any important deadlines pass.
Call 1-855-MED-ASKS to get started right away.
Is Failure to Diagnose Malpractice?
One of the most common forms of medical malpractice is the failure to diagnose a medical condition. Many conditions are treatable if caught early, but they become devastating or even fatal if not detected in a reasonable time.
If a doctor fails to diagnose a condition that they should have reasonably been able to identify, such as a palpable body mass that turns out to be cancer, the physician may have committed malpractice.
What If My Doctor Misdiagnosed My Condition?
Returning to the previous example, suppose the doctor does notice the body mass but attributes it to a different, more benign cause, such as an overactive thyroid. Rather than diagnosing you with cancer and getting you into treatment as quickly as possible, the doctor makes a false diagnosis, which allows a more serious condition to develop. By the time the doctor realizes the true cause of the mass, the cancer has grown and is much more difficult to treat. This could also constitute malpractice.
Can Misinterpreting Lab Results Be Medical Malpractice?
Failing to interpret lab results correctly can be malpractice. A large part of a doctor’s job is reading and interpreting lab reports and using them to make diagnoses and prescribe treatment. When a doctor makes a preventable mistake in this area, disastrous consequences can result. In a worst-case scenario, a doctor might prescribe an unnecessary medication based on a faulty lab report reading that causes complications or even death.
Are Surgical Errors Medical Malpractice?
Surgical errors are another source of medical malpractice claims. Most surgical errors are subtle. In fact, many victims are not even aware that their doctor made a mistake until days, weeks, or even months later when they begin to notice complications. This is one reason why knowing the local malpractice laws in your state is so important. Some states do not start the statute of limitations clock until you discover that you were a victim of malpractice. Others start it when the malpractice occurred, regardless of how long it took for you to become aware of it.
What If My Doctor Made a Medication Error?
Doctors prescribe millions of prescription drugs every year. For the most part, these medications are beneficial, helping patients cure their ailments or alleviate symptoms. However, drugs are powerful agents that can wreak havoc on the body if not properly administered. When a doctor is negligent and prescribes the wrong medicine or administers the wrong dosage of medicine, you can become sick, injured, or even die. You can hold the doctor responsible for these and other medication errors.
What If My Doctor Provided Inadequate Follow-Up Care?
After a major medical procedure, you do not typically return to normal right away. The recovery period can last months or longer. The level of care your doctor provides during this time can affect how well you recover. Poor or inadequate care can lead to a lengthy or incomplete recovery. In extreme cases, it can cause you to develop additional injuries or illnesses related to your original condition. Even if your doctor was diligent in diagnosing and treating your condition, they could still be negligent if they do not provide the proper level of follow-up care and aftercare.
Is Abuse Medical Malpractice?
In some of the worst cases of medical malpractice, doctors have abused or intentionally mistreated patients under their care. Such behavior can warrant criminal charges in addition to a malpractice lawsuit. If you have suffered physical or sexual abuse from a doctor or medical professional, you should speak with an attorney right away and make a police report as well. You could be eligible for both compensatory and punitive damages.
How Can I Get Legal Help With My Medical Malpractice Case?
The legal team at Newsome | Melton can help you pursue a medical malpractice claim. We offer free consultations to answer your questions and review your case. Our attorneys have helped many clients across the U.S. win the damages they deserve.
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