Medical malpractice is a type of legal action taken by a person who has been injured as a result of professional negligence. This can include but is not limited to, medical errors, wrong diagnoses, or treatments that were not properly prescribed.
Common Types of medical malpractice
Medical malpractice can be a very costly affair, and can often lead to long-term health problems for the person who is injured. Common types of medical malpractice are the following.
Failure to Diagnose
The most common type of medical error is a failure to diagnose. These errors often occur because the doctor doesn’t take a patient’s symptoms seriously enough, or because the patient fails to disclose relevant symptoms that might be important enough to be noticed by the doctor. For example, a patient with a blocked bladder might not think it’s odd that they can’t urinate. If the doctor doesn’t notice this, the patient may not get the treatment they need to clear their bladder. Or, a patient with a broken leg may not tell the doctor they have significant pain. If the doctor doesn’t notice this either, the patient may not be treated appropriately.
Delayed Diagnose
The next most common type of medical error is a delay in diagnosis. This is when a patient has a condition that should have been detected by the doctor, but it wasn’t. A common example of this would be a patient with a broken leg. If the fracture is not detected, the patient will suffer pain, possibly develop an infection, and have a longer hospital stay. While breaking a leg does not warrant medical negligence, it does warrant compensation.
Improper treatment
The last type of medical error worth mentioning is improper treatment. This type of error typically occurs when doctors treat a patient in a way that isn’t necessary. For example, if a patient has a broken arm, but doesn’t need surgery, then the doctor who treated the arm could be considered negligent. If the patient develops a complication from the treatment, the doctor could be held accountable.
Negligence
The final type of medical error that’s worth mentioning is negligence. This is a special type of medical error that is not the fault of the patient or the doctor. It is possible for the doctor to be negligent. This means that the doctor made a specific mistake that harmed the patient. For example, if a patient develops a fever after receiving a vaccine, the doctor who administered the vaccine could be negligent if they fail to diagnose the fever. If the Fever is high enough, it could lead to complications and even death. In this case, the doctor who administered the vaccine is not to blame, but the doctor who failed to diagnose the fever is negligent.
Other Types of Medical Error
Beyond the most common types of medical error, there are many other types that can occur. These include medical mistakes that are caused by staff shortages or a breakdown in communication. A broken machine could also cause an error. The most common types of medical error, though, are listed above. If you have suffered a medical error and have been unable to receive the compensation you deserve, you may be able to pursue a medical error lawsuit. With the right legal representation, you have a good chance of receiving the compensation you deserve. If you have been injured as a result of medical malpractice, it is important to speak to one of the medical solicitors who can help you get the best possible legal protection and claim.
