Medical malpractice cases can be particularly traumatic. Patients expect to receive fair and responsible treatment, but when a health-care provider makes a mistake, the consequences can be severe. These cases often involve lifelong disabilities or wrongful death.
People make mistakes – and health-care workers are no exception. If you were injured due to a medical provider’s error, then you probably face significant expenses for ongoing treatment, lost wages and other damages. This is where an injury lawyer may be able to help.
If you were the victim of medical malpractice in Texas, then contact an Austin personal-injury attorney from the Robson Law Firm. Call us today at 512-345-8200 to schedule a consultation.
Until then, read on to learn five errors that can lead to medical malpractice lawsuits:
1. Delayed or Incorrect Diagnosis
An incorrect or delayed diagnosis is a potentially fatal error. It often costs victims months of additional treatments. In some cases, patients undergo the wrong procedures due to the misdiagnosis. If you file a lawsuit, then you must prove how another doctor with the same specialty would not make the same error.
2. Complications from Surgery
An alarming number of medical malpractice cases involve surgical errors. Stories of leaving instruments inside patients, piercing internal organs or operating on the wrong body part are common. Furthermore, patients often receive inadequate care post-surgery, or they do not receive instructions on how to act during recovery.
3. Injuries during Childbirth
Despite advances in birthing techniques, fetal injuries are still common. Babies often suffer long-term brain disorders, fractures and nerve damage.
These problems are not always the results of a doctor’s negligence or incompetence. However, malpractice can occur at any time during pregnancy or delivery, and this can injure babies and harm mothers.
4. Receiving the Wrong Medication
Every year, medication mistakes cause 100,000 Americans new health concerns. Doctors often prescribe patients the incorrect medicines. Sometimes, there are mistakes with a certain drug’s administration. In a hospital setting, nurses can mistakenly confuse patients or their medicinal requirements, giving unfortunate patients the wrong medicine. Receiving an incorrect dosage is the most common mistake in this category.
5. Mistakes with Anesthetic
Anesthetic contains a powerful concoction of dangerous chemicals. Any mistake with this substance can have detrimental consequences to a patient’s health. In fact, these mistakes are often fatal.
Anesthesiologists must check the patient’s medical history to find any possible complications. In addition, they must inform patients of the risks involved, monitor vital signs, incubate patients correctly, and use the right equipment. Perhaps most important, they must administer the correct amount of anesthetic.
Medical malpractice lawsuits are legally complex matters, and they often require expert witnesses and extensive evidence to win. Medical personnel and hospitals protect themselves from liability in contractual agreements.
An Austin personal-injury attorney can evaluate your case and explain your legal options. If your injury happened in Texas, then call the Robson Law Firm at 512-345-8200 to schedule a free initial consultation.