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What is Medical Negligence? Patients today place a high level of trust in their doctors and medical professionals. We rely on their years of extensive training and years of practice to provide us with the best service and treatment they can provide. But, even with all of their training and expertise, serious medical errors still happen and many of these medical errors can and do lead to death. These medical errors can take place when a doctor or medical staff member uses poor judgment with a decision regarding a patient. Mistakes also occur because so many doctors and nurses are overworked and their fatigue impairs their ability to properly treat their patients. No matter what the reasons are, medical errors are unacceptable and someone should be held responsible for the damage incurred. Medical negligence simply means that the doctor or medical staff member was negligent or behaved in a negligent manner while treating a patient’s medical condition. It has been estimated that five to ten percent of all admitted patients to hospitals will fall victim to medical negligence or malpractice. In the US, there are around 98,000 preventable deaths that occur from medical negligence. These deaths could all be avoided, provided the patients are treated properly. Common Examples of Medical Negligence The most common examples of medical negligence can include:
• The failure of medical staff to diagnose a disease or medical condition
• The misdiagnosing of a disease or condition by medical staff
• Medical staff failing to provide the proper treatment plan for that disease or condition
• Treatment of the disease or medical condition being delayed All of these examples stem from negligence by our medical professionals and these acts can result in injury or death to the patient. The failure to diagnose a condition or disease can be life-threatening. Even if your condition is diagnosed, you sometime run the risk of being misdiagnosed, which can be life-threatening as well. The most common conditions that are typically overlooked or misdiagnosed include:
• Heart attack
• Stroke
• Infections
• Appendicitis
• Aneurisms In a recent study conducted by Health Grades, Inc., they found that approximately 15.5% of hospital patients in the US are misdiagnosed every year. If a patient has been misdiagnosed, they are going to be given the wrong treatment plan. This misdiagnosis could lead to death if, for example, the patient is prescribed the wrong type of medication for their condition and they suffer serious side effects from the medication. Another example of medical negligence could be that your treatment is delayed. Even if you are properly diagnosed for an illness, if your treatment is delayed, you could suffer further injury and even death. Many conditions, such as heart attack or stroke, need immediate treatment in order to be reversed. Know Your Rights In most states, a patient has the right to file a medical negligence claim against any licensed health care provider. These healthcare providers include doctors, but can also include counselors, psychologists, and even psychotherapists. In some states, such as Arizona, there are no caps put on the amount of damages you can be granted in a medical negligence or malpractice lawsuit. It is never easy dealing with an illness, whether you are the victim or a loved one of the victim. Medical negligence and malpractice law is a very technical field of law. It is imperative that the lawyer you choose be experienced in handling these types of difficult cases. Medical negligence law varies from state to state, so please contact the law offices of Snyder & Wenner in the Phoenix, Arizona area for an initial consultation to help you assess the damages and understand your rights.
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