Hearing about malpractice cases is unnerving. People trust in their doctor and later learn that it was that medical provider who caused additional injury. If you are currently undergoing such a situation, know that you’re not alone. Unfortunately, it happens too often. However, this doesn’t mean that you have to suffer the consequences without legal recourse. Read below for an overview of commonplace healthcare liability claims and what you can do about them.
What Are the Most Common Types of Medical Malpractice Claims in Texas?
While every case is different, there are several types of lawsuits that come up repeatedly. Some of these include:
1. Misdiagnosis
This type of negligence can have dire consequences: Not only does receiving treatment for a condition you do not have impair your health, your actual condition may worsen due to the lack of treatment you would have received had the doctor made the correct diagnosis.
2. Surgical Mistakes
There are so many things that can go wrong in surgery: insufficient anesthesia, causing the patient to wake up mid-surgery; unsanitary instruments; or operating on the wrong body part, to name a few.
3. Objects Left Inside the Body During Surgery
Medical professionals who work in operating rooms generally count the number of instruments and sponges after the procedure, to make sure that every item is accounted for prior to closing the surgical site. However, you’d be surprised at the long list of surgical devices that have been left inside a patient’s body. Some of these include scalpels, needles, sponges, or surgical gloves. Towels and tissues can be easy to miss, since once they are soaked in blood, they are hard to see. Mix in healthcare professionals who are often working extended shifts, and it can be a dangerous (and sometimes fatal) recipe for disaster.
4. Hospital Acquired Infections
About 4% of hospital patients in Texas acquire an infection while hospitalized. This can result in complications of existing diseases, additional diseases, or even death.
5. Medication Errors
These include prescribing the wrong medication, administering meds with ingredients that caused an allergic reaction, or that cause blood clots or high blood pressure due to a patient’s pre-existing medical condition. Or sometimes the prescription is correct, but the suggested dosage results in overdose; or the doctor fails to warn how the medication interacts with other medications. Any of these elements could be detrimental to a patient’s health.
6. Gross Negligence
Gross negligence goes beyond ordinary negligence. It’s the type of mistake that occurs when a medical provider acts with a complete disregard for the safety of the patient. This can be the case when a healthcare professional provides treatment while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or without being properly trained. You can typically ask for punitive damages in these cases.
Civil Litigation Attorneys in Texas
If you believe you may be a victim of medical malpractice and need to know how to move forward, the experienced attorneys at The Weycer Law Firm can help.
Discuss your case for FREE today by contacting us online or by calling (713) 668-4545. Note: This blog is for informational purposes only and does not create an attorney/client relationship.