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Dangerous medical procedures cause catastrophic harm every year in Indiana and across the United States. These medical malpractice injuries occur when doctors or other healthcare providers act in ways that deviate from what another provider with similar training and experience would have done under similar circumstances. Research suggests that there are more than 200,000 preventable patient deaths nationwide annually from malpractice injuries. Meanwhile, experts estimate the financial cost of these incidents to be anywhere from $20 billion to $45 billion.
Here are five common medical procedures leading to malpractice:
Surgical Errors Malpractice
Even a small mistake in the operating room can lead to serious complications, infections, or the need for additional surgeries. These errors can include operating on the wrong body part, leaving surgical tools inside the patient, or causing unexpected damage to nearby organs. Patients trust their surgeons with their lives, and the consequences can be life-changing when providers break that trust.
Misdiagnosis or Delayed Diagnosis
Patients may miss their chance for early, more effective treatments when a medical professional fails to diagnose a serious condition—or takes too long to do so. These mistakes often lead to worsening illnesses, more invasive procedures, or even death. Common examples include missed diagnoses of cancer, heart attacks, or infections.
Childbirth Injuries
Sadly, mistakes during labor and delivery often cause long-term harm. These errors may involve improper use of forceps, failure to perform a timely C-section, or ignoring signs of fetal distress. Brain damage, broken bones, or permanent disabilities are common results of doctors’ mistakes in a baby’s early life.
Anesthesia Errors
Doctors must make careful calculations and monitor patients closely when using anesthesia. Errors can occur when doctors administer the wrong medications or dosages, or when they fail to monitor patients properly during surgery. Anesthesia mistakes can lead to brain damage, stroke, heart complications, or even death. Because patients are completely vulnerable under anesthesia, it’s critical for anesthesiologists and surgical teams to follow strict safety protocols.
Medication Mistakes
Prescribing or administering the wrong medication—or the wrong dose—can cause serious harm to patients. These errors can result from poor communication, incorrect labeling, or failure to review a patient’s allergies or existing prescriptions. In turn, medication mistakes can cause allergic reactions, overdoses, and dangerous interactions. These errors are nearly always preventable with proper procedures and oversight.
When to Contact a Medical Malpractice Lawyer
It’s best to contact a medical malpractice lawyer as soon as possible after realizing a healthcare provider injured you. These cases take time to build, and vital evidence can be lost or disappear quickly if you don’t have a lawyer to gather and preserve it.
Attorney Kelley J. Johnson focuses solely on medical malpractice claims, providing in-depth insights and experience that she can use to help you recover fair compensation. Attorney Johnson and her team understand how to hold careless doctors or healthcare facilities accountable through medical negligence claims procedures. Our knowledge of the state’s Patient’s Compensation Fund means we know how to maximize your financial recovery, as evidenced by our track record of success. Call now or complete our contact form for a free consultation.
