Three Common Claims of Medical Malpractice

Medical malpractice takes place every day at clinics and hospitals across America.

But certain types of medical malpractice are more common than others. Here are the three most common claims of medical malpractice across our country today:

1. Misdiagnosis

Misdiagnosis is the most common type of physician error in America today. The top 5 most commonly diagnosed diseases or conditions are:

  • Infections
  • Tumors or masses inside the body
  • Heart attacks
  • Blood clots in the lung (pulmonary embolism)
  • Heart disease

There are plenty of good and bad reasons for misdiagnosis. On the “less negligent” side of things, patients might not have the textbook list of symptoms for a particular condition. This can make it difficult for doctors to spot what’s wrong.

On the “more negligent” side of things, doctors may fail to request adequate tests or analysis performed on a patient. They might dismiss obvious symptoms. Or, physicians might spend a long period of time treating a condition that isn’t actually there.

Ultimately, the matter of negligence can be decided by the justice system. However, the consequences of misdiagnosis can be life-threatening or even fatal.

2. Negligence During Pregnancy

Also classified as obstetric or gynecological negligence, this type of medical malpractice can cause lifelong problems for both mothers and their newborn (or unborn) babies. Even with all our technology in the 21st century, there are still plenty of mistakes that can take place during pregnancy.

Some of the most common problems related to medical malpractice during pregnancy and childbirth include the following:

  • Placental abnormalities
  • Gestational diabetes in the mother
  • Hemorrhage of the mother during pregnancy or labor
  • Negligence in administering anesthesia during labor or a Caesarian section
  • Excessive and unexplained vaginal bleeding
  • Health problems related to premature babies
  • Long labor causing injury to the mother and the baby
  • Shoulder dystocia or other nerve injury of the baby during labor
  • Preeclampsia

Pregnancy is complex, and different bodies experience pregnancy in different ways. In some cases, the problems that arise during pregnancy should have reasonably been spotted by a competent doctor.

In other cases, pregnancy and labor might not go as expected – but that doesn’t automatically mean the obstetrician or gynecologist has committed medical malpractice.

3. Surgical Errors

Surgical errors may be the most serious type of medical malpractice claim. In many unfortunate cases, medical malpractice that occurs during surgery can be fatal.

Common types of errors that may be committed during surgery include:

  • Damaging a nerve
  • Failing to control bleeding
  • Leaving a foreign body inside the patient after the procedure is complete (like a sponge or cloth)
  • Performing the wrong operation

Believe it or not, that last problem occurs with disappointing frequency across America. A hospital may mix up patients, causing the wrong operation to be performed on the wrong person.

In other cases, surgeons may perform the right operation but on the wrong part of the body.

Certain parts of the body are more prone to surgical error than others. For example, the gastrointestinal tract and the spine are two of the most common places for surgical errors to occur.

Another common type of surgical error is blindness. When a patient is undergoing lengthy back surgery, he may need to lie on his stomach for a long period of time. The anesthesiologist needs to periodically move the patient or else it can cause lasting damage to the optic nerve, leading to blindness.

Have you or a Loved One Been a Victim of Medical Malpractice?

Like other personal injury cases, the problem breaks down to negligence. If you can prove your gynecologist or obstetrician was negligent in performing his or her medical duties, then you may have a medical malpractice case.

In the medical field, negligence typically occurs when the doctor is determined to have not acted reasonably or with the skill and care that a reasonably qualified doctor would have demonstrated under similar circumstances.

If you or a loved one has been the victim of any of the above medical malpractice claims in the past, then it’s in your best interests to setup an appointment with Oklahoma City’s Johnson & Biscone. As pharmaceutical litigation Oklahoma experts, Johnson & Biscone have helped clients go up against some of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies. Call 405-232-6490 for a free consultation.

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