We often trust medical professionals to maintain and restore our health. However, despite their expertise and commitment, there is still room for errors in their practice. Sadly, the number of patients and their families filing medical malpractice complaints continues to increase.
While it often leads to injuries, medical malpractice can also result in fatalities. There are numerous acts of medical malpractice that can result in deaths, but three of the most common causes are the following:
1. Diagnostic errors
This is one of the leading causes of medical malpractice lawsuits. This includes:
- Failing to diagnose a medical condition
- Failing to diagnose the correct medical condition
- Delayed diagnosis
These errors can lead to incorrect or delayed treatment. In cases of severe illnesses, such as cancer or heart attacks, where timely and specific treatment is critical, such errors can be fatal.
2. Surgical errors
Many things can go wrong during an operation. Unfortunately, many of these errors are due to the negligence of doctors and medical staff. Examples of surgery errors include the following:
- Conducting surgery on the wrong injury site
- Causing nerve damage that could have been preventable
- Leaving a foreign object inside the patient’s body
- Performing the wrong procedure
Such mistakes can result in severe complications or death.
3. Medication errors
Medication errors can include prescribing or administering the wrong medication or incorrect dosage. These mistakes can cause severe adverse reactions, overdose or underdose, potentially leading to a patient’s death.
If you believe you suffered injuries or a loved one passes away due to a medical professional’s negligence, you can consider speaking to a legal representative experienced in handling medical malpractice cases to explore your legal options.