When doctors and surgeons mess up in their work, the effects can be worse than usual errors on the job. Since so much of what they work with is sensitive, the consequences can be more than just a simple reprimand or penalty when mistakes are made. In many cases, this leads to a medical malpractice suit.
These cases are some of the most complicated things that a legal nurse consultant can handle, and can often take a lot of time and effort to resolve. While the ideal way of resolution is out of court settlement or arbitration, there are some cases where the full force of the law is applied.
Here are just some examples of medical malpractice lawsuits:
Medication
Medication cases form a majority of medical malpractice suits. It’s estimated that over a million people a day are incorrectly prescribed or dosed with medication. Medication-related issues can occur at all stages of the medication process, from prescription, intake and side-effects to the actual dosage of the drug.
This type of medical malpractice case even covers things not directly tied to the doctor in question—for example, assisting staff like nurses or interns and even medical equipment that delivers medication. It’s a common suit that can be quite difficult to untangle due to the fact that so many things or people can be held accountable.
Surgery
On the other hand, potentially life-threatening errors made during surgery can often lead to a medical malpractice case as well. Again, all participants in the surgery can be held liable if a case is filed, though the majority of the responsibility will fall on the head surgeon.
Surgery malpractice suits can also cover events that occur after the surgery, such as post-op care. This means even if the surgery itself went well, but complications arise when it finishes (either due to the negligence of the nurse or some other affair), the hospital and staff can be held liable.
Misdiagnosis
One of the more complex medical malpractice suits to receive undoubtedly revolves around the diagnosis. The complication here can occur when a doctor does not have the correct or enough information to make an accurate medical diagnosis but does so anyway. Is there enough proof for conviction if the information he had was the best at the time?
Untangling a medical misdiagnosis can also be more stressful since the patient may still be experiencing the effects of the misdiagnosis, which can considerably swing the verdict in their favor. Ultimately, getting a skilled legal team to sort this type of suit out will be necessary.
If you or a member of your medical staff have been sued for medical malpractice, it’s important that you immediately take steps to protect yourself and your institute’s reputation. Getting a skilled legal team to help you analyze and build a strong defense in the time allocated is critical. Choose one that is intimately familiar with the ins and outs of medical malpractice cases. Only then, can you increase your chances of getting the compensation you or someone you know deserves.
