What are the Different Types of Medical Malpractice Claims?
There are many different reasons that medical malpractice takes place. Most of them constitute negligence on the part of the physician and involve the following:
Large-scale clerical error may have harmed patients
It’s pretty easy to understand that there may be tragic consequences when a patient in need of medical attention is unable to see a doctor. Without any care or treatments, even conditions that would otherwise respond to medical treatments might take a serious turn.
Unable to make a diagnosis, doctors turn to DNA technology
Researchers have been sequencing DNA for years in an effort to identify pathogens. However, DNA analysis hasn’t been widely used to diagnose individual patients’ infections because of the time involved in sorting through DNA fragments that might number in the millions. Yet software is already being developed that can compare DNA fragments with databases of stored genetic sequences.
Easily accessible medical records may improve patient care
Have you ever asked yourself these questions: Can a lab test result be used as the sole basis for a diagnosis? Was a generally accepted test used to diagnose my illness? Does my diagnosis match my symptoms?
Do patients have the right to know about previous doctor errors?
Medical malpractice, negligence and doctor errors are a frightening prospect for patients. These potential issues raise the question: do patients have the right to know if their doctor has been cited for malpractice or doctor errors? A recent study into this issue has found that over 77 percent of New York doctors who have faced citations continue to practice.
Hospitals may be negligent in safeguarding against infections
Last month, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a disturbing figure: Around 75,000 patients die in hospitals each year from infections contracted in health care facilities.
Substance abuse among hospital staff may endanger patient care
Although readers may expect this medical malpractice blog to occasionally address medication errors, today’s entry highlights a different medication concern: prescription drug dependency among doctors, nurses and other medical staff.
The Statute of Limitations "Trap"
A woman goes to her doctor and complains about a lump in her breast.
The Dr. sends her for a mammogram.
A few days later, the Dr. calls to tell her not to worry, as it is “only a cyst”.
Study indicates alarming outpatient misdiagnosis rate
Readers of this medical malpractice blog may be familiar with some patient safety initiatives focusing on new programs under the Affordable Care Act. What readers may not realize, however, is that a majority of these and other patient safety improvement programs have been limited to inpatient hospital care.
Newborn’s undiagnosed congenital heart defect results in tragedy
A vitamin a day may not actually keep the doctor away, but there is benefit to certain preventative practices, such as screening tests. Unfortunately, patients may not realize that they may be at risk for certain conditions, and a doctor’s failure to advise a patient about recommended tests may allow conditions to go undiagnosed — until it is too late. In such cases, an injured patient or surviving loved one may need to talk with a medical malpractice attorney about holding doctors accountable for their potentially negligent care.