You expect to be treated with respect, courtesy, and professionalism as a hospital patient. You also expect that the medical professionals at the facility will provide quality care. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case.
Medical malpractice is a real concern for patients at hospitals across the country, and ignoring them isn’t an option. Here are seven types of hospital negligence that can cost you a great deal—and what to do if you suspect your rights have been violated. Take a look.
Missed or Delayed Diagnosis
A missed or delayed diagnosis is one of the most common—and costly—types of hospital negligence. Sometimes, patients may be misdiagnosed, given the wrong medication, or sent home too soon. If you suspect that your diagnosis was delayed or incorrect, it’s important to seek a second opinion from a qualified medical professional. You may also have grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit. Hiring an injury attorney representing the victims (you) may be a good option.
Surgical Errors
If you or a loved one has undergone surgery, you expect the procedure to go smoothly. Unfortunately, surgeons may make mistakes and try to brush them off. Surgical errors are surprisingly common, and they can have devastating consequences.
Some of the frequent surgical errors may include:
- Operating on the wrong body part
- Leaving a foreign object inside the patient’s body
- Damaging surrounding tissues or organs
- Performing the wrong procedure
Birth Injuries
Giving birth is one of the most amazing yet complicated procedures. Unfortunately, sometimes things can go wrong, and the baby or mother may be seriously injured as a result.
Suppose you or your child has suffered a birth injury due to hospital negligence. In that case, you could be entitled to compensation for your damages.
Some of the most common birth injuries include:
- Cerebral palsy: A disorder that affects muscle coordination and movement
- Erb’s palsy: A paralysis of the arm caused by damage to the upper nerves in the shoulder
- Shoulder dystocia: A condition in which the baby’s shoulder becomes lodged behind the mother’s pelvic bone.
Medication Errors
Medication errors are surprisingly common in hospitals. From administering the wrong medication to giving patients the wrong dosage, there are many ways that these errors can occur. If you believe you or your relative is a victim of a medication error, consider filing a compensation claim.
Anesthesia Errors
Anesthesia is incredibly powerful and must be administered carefully. Unfortunately, anesthesia errors are not uncommon. If you or a loved one have been injured due to an anesthesia error, you may be able to file a medical malpractice claim.
Common anesthesia errors include:
- Administering too much or too little anesthesia: This can happen if the anesthesiologist miscalculates the dose or fails to monitor the patient properly.
- Administering the wrong type of anesthesia: It occurs if the anesthesiologist is not familiar with the patient’s medical history or does not correctly identify the problem that needs to be addressed.
- Failure to monitor the patient: Anesthesiologists must constantly monitor patients to ensure they are not in danger. If the anesthesiologist fails to do this, it can lead to serious complications.
If you or a loved one have been injured due to an anesthesia error, you may be able to file a medical malpractice claim. An experienced attorney can help you understand your legal options and get your compensation.
Infections
Hospitals should be clean and sterile environments. But the ground reality of many hospitals tells a different story. It may be due to negligence if you or a loved one have contracted an infection while in the hospital.
Watch out for these hospital-acquired infections:
- MRSA: A type of staph infection that is resistant to many antibiotics
- C. diff: A bacterial infection that can cause severe diarrhea
- VRE: Another type of antibiotic-resistant infection
- Hepatitis B and C: These viruses can be spread through contaminated needles or blood transfusions.
Emergency Room Errors
Emergency rooms are often chaotic and overcrowded.
This can lead to mistakes, such as:
- Misdiagnosis: One of the most common emergency room errors. It can happen when doctors fail to diagnose a condition or make a wrong diagnosis properly.
- Delayed treatment: If you or a loved one have been waiting for hours in the emergency room without being seen, it may be due to hospital negligence.
- Failure to properly monitor patients: Patients in the emergency room are often critical and need to be monitored carefully. If the staff fails to do this, it can lead to serious complications.
Final Word
Hospitals are supposed to be places of healing. But sometimes, they can do more harm than good. Watch out for the negligence cases mentioned above and take the necessary steps if you believe you’re a victim of hospital negligence.
If you have any questions or concerns, ask us in the comments.