Medical mistakes can not only cause a patient to suffer a serious injury, but it could also lead to a fatal injury. We often expect that our doctors have our best interests in mind. However, some doctors could make mistakes that could leave us with an injury that could change our lives. If you or a family member was injured due to a medical mistake, contact an experienced Baltimore medical mistake attorney today.
At Bennett & Heyman, we are dedicated to fighting for individuals that are injured due to the negligence of medical practitioners. Our firm has worked with residents in Baltimore and across the State of Maryland, and we would be pleased to work with you. To schedule a free legal consultation, contact Bennett & Heyman at (410) 429-7856, or contact us online.
5 Common Medical Mistakes in Baltimore, MD
A medical mistake can encompass a number of accidents that may occur while receiving treatment at a hospital. When a medical mistake occurs, it is important to understand how the mistake will affect and who can be held responsible for the mistake. The following is a list of common medical mistakes that could lead to a serious or fatal injury.
Diagnosis Errors
When a person feels that they are becoming ill, they will visit a doctor to determine what can be done about their health condition. Many patients expect that their doctor will diagnose their condition and suggest treatment to handle the issues. However, some doctors may fail to properly diagnose the condition. For example, if a doctor does not discover a cancerous lump when they should have, the cancer may continue to spread until it becomes more difficult to treat. As a result, a patient could become seriously or fatally ill.
Failure to diagnose is not the only type of diagnosis error that can affect a patient. In some cases, a doctor may misdiagnose a patient or only diagnose the issue after a significant amount of time. Each of these medical mistakes can be considered malpractice that could seriously impact a patient.
Surgical Mistakes
There is no such thing as an easy surgical procedure. The medical team in charge of a surgery must be extremely diligent in ensuring that the patient is not injured during the procedure. Unfortunately, some surgeons fail to ensure the safety of their patients.
Leaving a medical instrument inside a patient is one type of devastating surgical mistake that thousands of patients deal with every year in the United States. Some patients have had sponges, towels, or surgical tools like scalpels left inside their bodies. As a person may not discover this object for weeks, months, or even years, there are a number of infections and injuries they may sustain.
Other types of surgical mistakes include:
- Surgery on the wrong area of the body
- Excessive or inadequate administration of anesthesia
- Improper incisions that could lead to nerve damage
Prescribing Incorrect Medication
When prescribing medication to a patient, doctors should ensure that the medication will adequately treat their condition, and that will not cause them harm. It is expected that a doctor will ask about any other medications the patient is taking to ensure they do not prescribe medication that will have negative interactions with the medication their new medication.
When a doctor fails to perform adequate research regarding the medication they are prescribing, they could be held liable when a patient has a serious interaction.
Unnecessary Medical Procedures
It is common for some doctors to suggest medical procedures that may not be beneficial for a patient they are treating. As a result, some patients may believe they need a certain type of medical treatment, which could cause them to be injured or contract an infection. For example, having a CT scan can increase a person’s risk of developing cancer.
If your doctor suggested a medical procedure that resulted in your injury, you should speak with an experienced attorney as soon as possible.
Uncoordinated Care
If a person does not frequently visit a hospital, they will likely be treated by multiple doctors when they seek treatment. A risk of being treated by multiple doctors is that the doctors will not coordinate with each other regarding the patient’s health. As a result, one doctor may prescribe medication or treatment that does not work with a patient’s current treatment plan.
Multiple parties could be held responsible for any issue caused due to uncoordinated care.
Work with an Experienced Baltimore Medical Mistake Lawyer Today
If you or a family member was the victim of medical malpractice, you should consult with an experienced medical mistake attorney in Baltimore, Maryland today. The injury lawyers at Bennett & Heyman possess decades of combined legal experience, and we are ready to use this knowledge to help you pursue the compensation you deserve. To schedule a free case evaluation, contact Bennett & Heyman at (410) 429-7856.
