What Qualifies As A Medical Error?

If you think that you or someone you love has been a victim of medical malpractice, it is important to know what qualifies as a medical error. There are many different errors that may constitute medical malpractice. It is imperative that you familiarize yourself with each type of error to determine whether or not you have the basis for a medical malpractice lawsuit.

Consider contacting our Boca Raton medical malpractice lawyers at Leifer & Ramirez to discuss your particular situation and understand your best course of action to hold negligent and careless parties accountable for their conduct.

Medical Errors That May Constitute Malpractice

Below is the non-exhaustive list of errors that qualify as a medical error and may constitute medical malpractice.

Surgical Errors

According to a recent study that appeared in the National Library of Medicine, there are an estimated more than 4,000 surgical errors in the U.S. annually, while operating on the wrong body part is a common type of this error.

Surgical errors occur when a surgeon performs the wrong procedure on a patient. This could be due to mistakes in the operating room, such as failure to follow safety protocols, incorrect use of surgical instruments, or misreading charts and records. Additionally, surgeons may accidentally leave objects inside the body during surgery, which can cause serious health issues later on. It is also essential that surgeons properly sterilize their tools and double-check all patient information before performing any procedure in order to avoid these types of errors.

Diagnostic Errors

Diagnostic errors occur when a physician fails to diagnose an illness correctly or in a timely manner. These types of mistakes can lead to a delayed diagnosis which can have serious implications for the patient’s health. Physicians should always take their patients’ symptoms seriously and order additional tests if needed in order to make an accurate diagnosis.

Medication Errors

Medication errors occur when physicians prescribe medications that are not suitable for the patient’s condition or prescribe incorrect dosages of medication. These types of mistakes can cause serious side effects for patients and can even be fatal in some cases. To avoid these types of mistakes, it is important for physicians to thoroughly review all prescriptions before they are given out and ensure they are appropriate for the patient’s condition.

Hospital Errors

Hospital errors occur when there is negligence on the part of the hospital staff, such as failure to properly sanitize equipment, failure to provide adequate supervision or training for staff members, and failure to properly document patient records. Hospital staff must always adhere to safety protocols in order to ensure that all patients receive proper care while they are at the hospital.

Communication Errors

Communication errors occur when there is poor communication between healthcare providers, such as doctors failing to communicate with nurses or nurses failing to communicate with other healthcare providers about a patient’s condition or treatment plan. Proper communication among healthcare providers is essential in order for a patient’s care plan to be effective and safe. Without it, medical mistakes can easily occur, resulting in harm to patients.

Discuss Your Case with a Lawyer at Leifer & Ramirez

Understanding what qualifies as a medical error may help individuals considering filing a claim to gain clarity on their situation and determine if they should pursue legal action against negligent healthcare professionals. If you are considering filing a medical malpractice lawsuit, seek legal counsel immediately and discuss your particular situation with an experienced lawyer. Contact Leifer & Ramirez by calling 561-660-9421 and schedule a free case review.

We serve clients throughout the state of Florida, including Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Pompano Beach, Deerfield Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach.

Source:

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499956/