Medical malpractice is now the third leading cause of death in the United States. Millions of people and their loved ones have been affected by medical mistakes by a doctor, nurse, or hospital. The consequences of these mistakes are often devastating and contribute substantially to healthcare costs. Though there are certain mistakes that are made more often than others, every malpractice suit is unique. Your case might not be that common, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t receive justice. If you’ve suffered from any of the most common types of medical malpractice cases, you should know you’re not alone. The most common claims are:

Misdiagnosis or Failure to Diagnose

More than 12 million people every year are misdiagnosed in both inpatient and outpatient settings. This can mean that doctors or nurses failed to log symptoms, did not run the necessary tests, or outright refused care. Many patients are misdiagnosed and either fail to receive the necessary treatment or are prescribed drugs that are not suited to their condition and are harmful. Heart attacks and cancer are two of the most common misdiagnoses. Many of these errors are due to sheer negligence. 

Medication and Prescription Errors

Doctors may make mistakes in the type of medication, dosage, or fail to notice drug interactions when making out prescriptions to patients. This can lead to a variety of medical outcomes from liver damage to addiction. 

Child Birth Injuries

OBGYNs are the subject of more lawsuits than any other type of doctor. Both the mother and the child are at risk for medical harm when the doctor is inattentive, negligent, or otherwise fails to provide adequate medical care. Fetal distress, spinal cord injuries, and postpartum hemorrhaging are common cases. 

Surgical Errors

Surgical errors are another common medical mistake. There have been cases where doctors have left surgical equipment and other materials inside the surgical site, operated on the wrong area or site or even operated on the wrong patient. The cost of surgical errors is huge - from the treatment to the follow-up procedures. The toll on the patient’s physical health can last a lifetime.

Anesthesia-Related Mistakes

These drugs can be incredibly harmful if administered inappropriately by the anesthesiologist. This error can happen during any type of procedure, not just surgery. The anesthesiologist is responsible for studying and understanding a patient’s medical history, prescription regimen, and current health condition. Failure to do so can cause serious problems, effect the success of the procedure, or even cause death.

Doctors are responsible for providing patients with a certain standard of care. When a doctor fails to follow the rules and there is a clear injury or distress, there are grounds for a medical malpractice suit. Many injuries are preventable and caused directly due to negligence by a medical professional or agency.

If you believe a medical mistake was the cause of yours or a family member’s health condition, you only have two years to act according to time statutes in Virginia (other states may differ). By contacting a team of professionals, like the Alexander Law Group, PLC, you’ll have access to a team of lawyers that will go through your case and help you collect the compensation you deserve. Call us at 804-271-1969 and talk to an expert about your case.