What Is the Most Common Reason for Medical Malpractice?
Medical malpractice can leave patients severely injured or worse. A medical malpractice attorney will fight to hold medical professionals responsible for their negligence while also securing compensation for the victim's injuries.
Medical malpractice can happen for many reasons but today the attorneys of the Tawwater Law Firm would like to take a moment to consider what the most common reason for medical malpractice is for their clients in Oklahoma City, OK.
What Is Medical Malpractice?
Medical malpractice occurs when a doctor or other medical professional causes a patient harm by neglecting to provide appropriate treatment or in some other way deviating from the standards of care expected in his or her profession.
In other words, if a patient is harmed by a doctor but would not have been harmed given the same circumstances to a different, competent doctor, medical malpractice may have occurred and there may be grounds for a lawsuit.
What's the Most Common Reason Medical Malpractice Occurs?
When it comes to medical malpractice in Oklahoma City, there are several reasons why it can occur. However, one of, if not the biggest reason for medical malpractice, is the negligence of a doctor or other medical professional.
Negligence can lead to life threatening errors, permanent injury, or even death in patients who are victims of medical malpractice.
Failing to follow hospital protocol, failing to confirm dosages of medication, and failing to confirm the identity of a patient are all possible forms of negligence that can lead to medical malpractice injuries.
Negligence Can Lead to Common Types of Medical Malpractice
Negligence can lead to several different types of medical malpractice complaints. Perhaps the most common of these complaints is issues with diagnosing a condition, including misdiagnoses or delayed diagnoses.
Misdiagnoses occur when doctors fail to diagnose a disease or treats the wrong disease, causing a delay in treating the patient's actual condition and leading to harm. Sometimes the true condition is not diagnosed until it is too late for treatment.
Another highly common form of medical malpractice includes medication errors. Medication errors can occur when a doctor or medical professional administers the wrong medication, the wrong dosage, fails to check medications for dangerous interactions, or gives the wrong medication to the wrong patient.
Other common types of medical malpractice include:
- Birth injuries
- Surgical errors
- Anesthesia errors
- Negligent care before or after surgery
Seeking Damages Through a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit
Victims of medical malpractice, or their surviving immediate family, may be entitled to compensation for damages if they are able to demonstrate that a doctor or medical professional acted negligently and committed medical malpractice.
A medical malpractice attorney can help gather evidence and build a strong case to support valid claims of medical malpractice.
Through a medical malpractice lawsuit, it may be possible to recover compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages while also holding medical professionals liable for their negligence.
Contact the Tawwater Law Firm
If you believe you or a family member have been the victim of medical malpractice, our medical malpractice lawyers are available to help you in your time of need. Our Oklahoma City attorneys are standing by to review your case and help determine your best course of action. To schedule a consultation, please call the Tawwater Law Firm at (405) 607-1400.
