Doctors spend years training in their profession. Even still, unfortunately, you may be injured while under their or another health care professional’s care. These injuries can result in a medical malpractice lawsuit to the injured party. In this blog we discuss the most common medical errors that lead to lawsuits:
1) Medication Errors
There are a number of ways that you can be the victim of a medication error. For example, the initial prescription your doctor gave you could be incorrect. This can refer to an incorrect medication that is prescribed to you, an incorrect dosage, or a correct medication for an incorrect diagnosis (such as receiving chemotherapy if you are misdiagnosed with cancer). That being said, it is your responsibility as a patient to ensure your doctor is aware of all the medications and vitamins that you take, and it is your doctor’s responsibility to ensure that your new prescription won’t interact negatively with your other medications.
2) Misdiagnosis or Delayed Diagnosis
Just as there are instances where a correct and timely diagnosis can save a life, there are times where a delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis can lead to injury or death. However, proving negligence in this situation can be very challenging.
To learn more about whether your misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis could be a viable lawsuit, contact ClarkeGriffin. Our experienced lawyers are ready to answer any questions you may have.
3) Improper Prenatal Care
Negligent medical treatment during pregnancy can harm both the mother and the baby. Some examples of prenatal negligence are failure to:
- Diagnose pregnancy related diseases in the mother like preeclampsia, Rh incompatibility, hypoglycemia, anemia, or gestational diabetes
- Recognize potential birth defects of the baby
- Identify ectopic pregnancies
- Diagnose and treat diseases that can be passed from the mother to the fetus during birth such as genital herpes
4) Child Birth Errors
Negligent medical treatment during delivery can also harm both the mother and the baby. Some examples of negligence during delivery are failure to:
- Anticipate birth complications due to the size or position of the baby and its umbilical cord
- Order a caesarean delivery when appropriate
- Respond to signs of fetal distress
- Correctly use the forceps or vacuum extractor
5) Anesthesia Errors
Before you undergo anesthesia, your anesthesiologist must thoroughly review your medical history to look for possible complications. Then, they must inform you of any possible risks associated with not following the pre-operative instructions. Not doing this could lead to a lawsuit. Other anesthesiologist mistakes include failing to properly intubate you, monitor you, or give you the correct dosage of anesthetic.
6) Surgery Errors
In surgery, it’s possible that the doctor may puncture an organ, operate on the incorrect body part, or even leave a surgical tool inside of a person. Another possible error from surgery might be if you become infected due to incorrect or negligent care from your nurse.
Contact an Oregon Personal Injury Lawyer
If you relate to any of these situations described above, please contact a qualified Oregon personal injury lawyer right away. There is a time limit in which you can bring medical malpractice lawsuits. At ClarkeGriffin, we’re ready to help anyone in Oregon who has been injured due to negligence. Let our experienced team help you get compensation for your injury, and give us a call today at (503) 543-4800.
