When you receive medical care, it’s reasonable to expect a certain level of professionalism and expertise. After all, healthcare is absolutely a matter of life and death. That’s why medical professionals of all types are legally bound to administer appropriate treatment from the moment they agree to provide medical care to a patient.
Unfortunately, medical professionals are human, and they are capable of making errors. Misdiagnoses, failure to diagnose, prescription errors, and surgical errors are all examples of medical errors that can be life-altering or even fatal for a patient.
When errors like these happen, it can be considered medical malpractice, and patients or their surviving family members may have legal recourse against any medical professionals who could be liable. If you or a loved one has suffered as a result of a misdiagnosis or other medical error, the team at Malamut Law has some information that can help you recover money damages from the responsible parties.
Types of Medical Errors
There are many different situations that could be considered a medical error, and many of them could rise to the level of medical malpractice.
Some examples would include:
- Misdiagnosis – If a medical professional incorrectly diagnoses you with a condition you do not have, any treatment provided for that incorrect condition could be harmful, or could allow your actual condition to progress.
- Failure to Diagnose/Delayed Diagnosis – If a medical professional fails to diagnose a condition that they should have recognized, it can allow some conditions to progress to the point where they will be much more difficult to treat, or could even be fatal.
- Surgical Errors – In some cases, a medical professional may perform a surgery that was not necessary, perform surgery on the wrong patient, or perform surgery on the wrong part of the body. Surgeons may also leave foreign objects inside the body during surgery.
- Anesthesia Errors – Many types of drugs used to sedate patients can be harmful or fatal if administered incorrectly. Harmful drug interactions, incorrect dosage, and using some types of anesthesia on patients who are allergic would all be examples of anesthesia errors.
- Medication Errors – Likewise, if a patient is prescribed the wrong medication, administered the wrong medication, prescribed or administered the wrong dosage, or is prescribed or administered a medication that has a harmful interaction with a medication they are already taking, they may have legal recourse against the prescribing physician.
- Equipment Errors – Medical equipment can include tools used to treat and diagnose patients, as well as medical devices that are inserted or implanted in a patient, or those – like wheelchairs, hearing aids, and more – that are used in the treatment of a condition. If any of these devices proves to be defective or is used incorrectly during treatment, medical professionals and equipment manufacturers could be liable for any injuries caused.
- Hospital-Acquired Infection – Surgeons and other medical professionals may be liable for infections caused by a failure to properly clean and sanitize their hands and equipment, or to properly use protective equipment like masks and gloves.
- Communication Errors – This could include errors in medical records, failure to communicate with patients about proper use of medications, use of medical equipment, aftercare instructions, and more. It could also refer to an error in communication between medical staff that leads to an injury or death.
What To Do If You or a Loved One Is the Victim of a Medical Error
Any time you or someone you care about is injured as the result of a medical error, it is important to speak with an attorney as soon as possible. In New Jersey and many other states, the statute of limitations for medical malpractice cases is two years after the error occurs, or two years after the injury was discovered or should have been discovered.
Once you speak with an attorney, you can learn more about how to pursue compensation for your medical bills, missed time at work, pain and suffering, and more. In cases of severe or criminal negligence, you may also be able to pursue punitive damages to punish the responsible parties.
At Malamut Law, our attorneys have combined decades of experience litigating a range of cases, including medical malpractice. Get in touch with us any time you need a Burlington County medical malpractice lawyer or an attorney for any other type of personal injury case in New Jersey.