The Civil Justice Resource Group estimates that between 65,000 and 200,000 deaths occur each year in the U.S. as a result of medical accidents—not to mention those who are only injured or disabled. If your doctor has failed in his or her duty of care, talk to an attorney about whether your case may be entitled to recompense. Below are some of the most common types of medical malpractice claims in the United States. 

What Are Common Types of Medical Malpractice?

1. Misdiagnosis

Failure to properly diagnose a serious condition, such as cancer or heart disease, can cost someone their life. In other cases, when a patient survives misdiagnosis, they are often never the same afterward and could require constant care for the rest of their life.

2. Obstetric Negligence

Having a child is meant to be a wonderful time in a person’s life. However, if the obstetrician—or another member of their team—neglects to give the legal standard of care by failing to notice a problem with your baby’s umbilical cord, for example, they can be held accountable. In other cases, attorneys have pursued compensation for a failure to perform an emergency C-section when it was called for and not monitoring the baby’s stats during the delivery.

3. Surgical Errors

Any number of mistakes can occur during surgery. However, that does not make them any less terrible. The surgeon may incise the wrong site or perform the wrong surgery, a team member could leave a sponge or tool inside the patient, or an anesthesia dosage miscalculation could result in brain damage. If you or a loved one is still suffering from the long-term consequences of such an error, reach out to an attorney to discuss patient rights.

4. Prescription Drug Errors

Doctors can err in choosing a dosage, while administering the drugs, or even by prescribing medications that interact badly with other drugs the patient is on. Although these errors are rarely fatal in and of themselves, they interfere with proper treatment and can lead to pain and suffering.

If you or a loved one has experienced medical malpractice, contact Cada Cada Hoffman & Jewson, a firm of experienced attorneys based in Lincoln, NE. They've been serving businesses and individuals in and around Lancaster County for more than 50 years and specialize in personal injury law. Visit their website to learn more about their lawyers’ backgrounds. Or call (402) 477-2233 to schedule a consultation.