Understandably, we rely on medical professionals to make major decisions regarding our health. Even the most qualified physician is not immune to making an error. Unfortunately, the stakes in a healthcare setting are high, and errors can prove fatal.
If you have been harmed due to a medical error, our medical malpractice team is available to answer any questions you may have. In this blog, we discuss different types of medical errors and where liability would lie for each.
Types of Medical Errors
A medical error can take many forms. Below, we discuss common medical errors plaguing our nation:
Surgical Errors
Whether it be amputating the wrong leg or removing the wrong kidney, each year, roughly 4,000 errors take place in surgery. These errors are considered “never events” since they should never have happened if appropriate preventive steps were implemented.
Of the surgical errors examined in the study, data revealed the following:
- 59.2 percent of patients were temporarily disabled
- 32.9 percent of patients were permanently disabled
- 6.6 percent died
Misdiagnoses
If you ever watched the television program House, you are aware that misdiagnoses take place in medicine. The most common condition to be misdiagnosed or to be diagnosed too late are strokes, being missed about 17.5% of the time.
If those numbers do not cause you concern, researchers have discovered that 795,000 people are permanently disabled or die due to being diagnosed with the wrong condition. A recent study revealed that if the rate of misdiagnosis were cut in half (50 percent), 150,000 fewer people would die each year.
Medication Errors
A medication error can involve a doctor prescribing the wrong medication, prescribing an incorrect dosage, or a pharmacist dispensing the wrong medication. Medication errors take place frequently, resulting in life-threatening consequences.
A patient may be prescribed an incorrect medication if the treating physician incorrectly diagnosed the patient. A medication error can also occur if the physician or medical professional confuses two patients or overlooks that two drugs are contraindicated.
In some situations, a pharmacist may dispense the wrong medication. Common causes of a pharmacist administering the wrong medication include mixing up patients or not being able to read a doctor’s script.
Liability for Medical Errors
Establishing who is responsible for your injuries will center around negligence. In a medical malpractice case, whichever party failed to meet the expected level of care in your treatment will be held accountable.
If a physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner prescribes the wrong medication, then he or she will be found liable for any resulting harm. If the medication prescribed was correct, but a pharmacist dispensed a different medication, then the pharmacist will be found liable for your injuries. Keep in mind that multiple parties can be found negligent.
Consult with our Harrisburg, PA, Medical Malpractice Lawyers
Falling ill can cause anxiety regarding your finances, affecting you mentally, emotionally, and physically. A medical error only exacerbates the worry further. If you have evidence that a medical professional made a medication error, you may be entitled to compensation. To learn how we can help, contact us online or by phone.