Millions of Americans suffer from medical malpractice every year, and it can cost them and the healthcare industry billions. Medical malpractice occurs when an ethical standard in healthcare is overlooked. Certain kinds of medical malpractice are more common than others.
Five of the most common types of medical malpractice are:
- Misdiagnosis
- Failure to treat
- Prescription drug error
- Surgical error
- Medical equipment liability
Every physician in the United States has sworn to “do no harm.” When harm happens, error or not, they can be held liable. Don’t delay if you think you are a victim of medical malpractice. Contact the Spartanburg medical malpractice team at McCravy Law for a free consultation, and we will be happy to review your case.
Here are the most common things to look out for when it comes to medical malpractice.
Medical Malpractice Through Misdiagnosis
A misdiagnosis happens all the time in healthcare, but it’s not always malpractice. Even so, a misdiagnosis can be fatal. The Mayo Clinic conducted a study that found that of several patients seeking a second diagnosis, only 12 percent had been correctly diagnosed by their general practitioners. Over 20 percent of them had been misdiagnosed entirely, and 66 percent needed changes to their diagnosis.
Other studies have noted that diagnostic malpractice has contributed to approximately 10 percent of patient deaths. As many as 17 percent of patients experience negative hospital experiences because of misdiagnosis malpractice.
John Hopkins says that diagnostic errors account for the largest number of payouts, and billions of dollars of diagnosis-related payments being spent every year.
Several things contribute to diagnostic error:
- Failure to recognize symptoms
- Mislabeled results
- Lost results
- Incorrect evaluation of tests
The medical field understands that your case merits compensation if you are the victim of a diagnosis error. You don’t need us to tell you that a bad diagnosis could be fatal. Call us at (864) 388-9100 or drop us a note online to book a free consultation if you are worried about a diagnosis error or medical malpractice.
Medical Malpractice Through Failure to Treat
There are several ways that medical malpractice can occur through failure to treat. It is a basic standard of care that a physician vows to undertake when practicing medicine. Failure to treat is a form of negligence that can include any of the following:
- Early discharge from the hospital
- Not providing follow-up instructions
- Failing to order medical testing
- Neglecting medical history
Often, doctors take on too many patients and don’t have the time to treat every patient with the required level of care. Being stretched too thin is not a good excuse for a doctor’s failure to treat. It’s tough to tell at first if you are a victim of such a healthcare professional. However, if you are not getting better with treatment, a failure to care or treat may be the reason.
You don’t have to just put up with it because a doctor told you that you had no choice. Contact a medical malpractice attorney in South Carolina for a free consultation to see if you are eligible for some medical costs recovered.
Medical Malpractice Through Prescription Drug Error
The FDA is a hawk when it comes to medication errors in the United States. They receive over 100,000 prescription error complaints annually. Their job is to review each one and determine if it was a malpractice or medication problem. Each case or error is classified by type and then resolved.
The National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention stipulates that they define medication error as a preventable event that may lead to inappropriate prescription use or even patient harm.
While in many cases, a patient is not taking their medication as prescribed; in other instances, they are given the wrong medication or not given the appropriate instructions. A medication error can lead to:
- Death
- Life-threatening illnesses or injuries
- Permanent disabilities
- Birth defects
- Hospitalized care
The most common types of prescription error include:
- Prescribing the wrong thing
- Prescribing the wrong dosage
- Failing to recognize a dangerous drug reaction
- Failing to recognize the abuse of a medication
It isn’t always the attending physician’s fault. You may receive the wrong medication in the hospital. It would be the hospital pharmacy that would be held accountable.
Touch base with a medical malpractice attorney to review your case. Call McCravy Law at (864) 388-9100 to book your free consultation and put your mind at ease on the matter today.
Medical Malpractice Through Surgical Error
Undergoing surgery is always terrifying. In addition to worrying about a fatality, you worry if you are safe in the doctor’s hands, even with the best care. With multiple people in one room, the chance for error increases. Medical malpractice through surgical error includes:
- Surgery performed on the wrong body part
- The wrong surgery performed
- Gauze or devices left inside the patient after surgery
- Anesthesia reactions
If you think you are a victim of medical malpractice through surgery in South Carolina, give McCravy Law a call for a free consultation.
Medical Malpractice Through Product Liability
Medical products and devices can malfunction or break down occasionally. Sometimes this occurs due to an individual or entity’s negligence, and they can be held liable.
When a product malfunctions, life could be lost. It’s not always easy to tell if it is malpractice at first. You may be injured or have your health compromised before you even know the product is defunct.
It is malpractice when someone knows they are giving you a faulty product. You may not always know how to determine the cause of the liability here.
That’s why we are here. We’ve seen this happen before. Call McCravy Law at (864) 388-9100 for a free case review today.
Contact a South Carolina Medical Malpractice Attorney Today
When you are undertaking healthcare decisions for you or a family member, healthcare is the top priority. You aren’t always going to be looking for malpractice or a low standard of care.
Help is available if something goes wrong during this time. A South Carolina medical malpractice attorney can review your case at no cost. We can help you determine if you have a claim and precisely who should be held responsible when you do.
We have helped clients win compensation for lost pay, cost of treatment, and pain and suffering after medical malpractice. Call McCravy Law at (864) 388-9100 or book a free consultation online today.
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