Were you received injured or disabled when under a medical professional’s care? Did their negligence cause you harm? You’re not alone.
In fact, around 250,000 Americans die every year from medical errors. Some studies state that medical errors account for over 440,000 deaths globally. Many healthcare professionals don’t report their mistakes.
These mistakes are the third-leading cause of death (following heart disease and cancer).
Are you unsure if you were the victim of medical malpractice?
Consider contacting a medical malpractice attorney Tampa citizens trust. Our team can help walk you through the process to receive the compensation you deserve.
Here are a few common types of medical malpractice. If any of these situations sound familiar, call us right away. We’re here to help.
Read on to learn more!
What is Medical Malpractice?
Before hiring a Tampa medical malpractice lawyer, it helps to understand medical malpractice.
A medical malpractice case develops when a healthcare professional causes their patient harm. These professionals can include an entire hospital, a doctor, surgeon, or nurse.
In some cases, these errors occur due to the healthcare professional’s negligence. Errors often occur during diagnosis, treatment, or aftercare.
It’s important to grasp the requirements for a medical malpractice lawsuit as well. Under the law, your lawyer will need to prove:
- A physician/patient relationship
- The healthcare professional’s negligence caused your injury
- That there was a violation in the standard of care
- That the injury led to significant damages and costs
Your healthcare professional should meet a specific standard of care. If they fail to do so, they’re not providing proper treatment. You can build your lawsuit if your level of care doesn’t meet proper standards.
Proving negligence isn’t enough to make a case, though. You’ll also need to provide that the low standard of care caused your injury.
It can feel difficult to build a medical malpractice case alone. Instead, consider hiring a medical malpractice attorney in Brandon, FL. Your lawyer will call on medical experts to prove negligence.
With their help, you can build a solid case. Your medical malpractice lawyer can also help you calculate your losses. These can include medical bills, pain and suffering, and loss of income.
How Medical Mistakes Occur
There are many reasons you can sustain an injury due to medical malpractice. Determining the root cause of the issue can help build your case.
For example, did your surgeon perform a surgery that they never completed before? Was the technique or procedure was experimental? Their incompetence or lack of skill could cause a surgical error.
Did your doctor or surgeon fail to make a plan for your treatment? Did they rush to perform surgery or neglected to develop a plan before the operation?
Other doctors fail to communicate with one another or their team. This could lead to misdiagnosis or medication errors. If you’re given the wrong medication, it could cause dangerous side effects.
Was your doctor exhausted when they met with you? Did your surgeon complete a 20-hour shift before operating on you? Their fatigue can cause mistakes, as well.
Your medical malpractice attorney will help you pinpoint the incident’s root cause.
Types of Medical Malpractice Cases
About one in every three clinicians get sued at least once in their career. About eight in every 10 of these cases go to trial for medical malpractice.
Here are a few types of medical malpractice. Don’t hesitate to call your Tampa medical malpractice lawyer if these sound familiar.
You have a specific time frame for pursuing a lawsuit. Known as the statute of limitations this time limit can lapse. You could lose the opportunity to receive compensation as a result.
Instead of losing that chance, make sure to contact an attorney right away.
1. Failure to Diagnose
Did your doctor fail to make the right diagnosis? Would a more competent physician have recognized your condition? Without proper diagnosis, your doctor will fail to provide the proper treatment.
You could also have a case if the treatment you receive doesn’t match your condition.
2. Surgical Errors
Your surgeon should do everything possible to avoid complications during surgery. If they failed to take the right precautions, you could develop an infection.
Anesthesia errors can occur, too. If an anesthesia error occurred, contact your attorney.
3. Birth Injuries
Did your physician fail to recognize your newborn has an existing condition? Did their negligence cause a developmental or cognitive problem for your child? Consider contacting a Florida birth injury lawyer to build your case.
4. Medication Errors
Between 7,000 to 9,000 people die as a result of a medication error in the US. Caring for patients who received the wrong medication exceeded $40 billion. These patients also experienced physical and psychological pain due to the error.
5. Improper Treatment
Your doctor should treat you with care. If they failed to meet the standard of care, you have a case.
Did your doctor provide the wrong treatment? This could also mean you have a case on your hands.
6. Failure to Warn
Before you start any treatment, your doctor should outline the potential risks. You can’t make an informed decision if you don’t understand the potential side effects.
You might have refused treatment if you understood the risks beforehand.
Did your physician fail to warn you of the risks for a treatment? Contact your medical malpractice attorney to build your case.
7. Failure to Follow-Up
Your doctor should follow-up during the course of your treatment. They’ll help you determine if your medication is working. If not, they can make adjustments to your treatment plan.
Is your doctor refusing to follow-up with you? Do they rush you out of the room or fail to answer your questions?
If so, you could have a case.
7 Types of Medical Malpractice: It’s Time to Call a Medical Malpractice Attorney
Do any of these medical mistakes sound familiar? Don’t hesitate to contact an expert medical malpractice attorney. With their help, you can build your case and receive the compensation you deserve.
Otherwise, the statute of limitations might lapse, costing you your chance.
Eager to work with an experienced Tampa medical malpractice lawyer? We’re here to help! Contact us today to discuss your case.