Medical malpractice occurs when a health care provider is responsible for an omission or negligent act that results in patient harm. With that said, a patient can’t claim malpractice simply because the outcome of their treatment or procedure was unfavorable—there must have been negligence by the doctor, hospital, or another provider. Below, learn about some common examples of cases in which a patient might seek retribution for a malpractice case.

A Guide to Medical Malpractice Examples

1. Errors With Surgery or Anesthesia

While uncommon, surgical errors can have devastating consequences, including lifelong disabilities or disfigurement. Such issues may occur when practitioners perform the wrong procedure, leave medical equipment inside the patient, administer the wrong dose of anesthesia, or cause tissue damage during an operation.

2. Misdiagnosis

Incorrectly diagnosing a patient can prevent them from getting the care they need in a timely manner. In some cases, this could allow a serious condition to progress. Also, the patient could receive the wrong medication, which could worsen the actual condition. To qualify for malpractice, a misdiagnosis would typically have to result in significant damages.

3. Delayed Diagnosis

Like a misdiagnosis, a delayed diagnosis could also allow a serious illness or condition to go untreated. In these circumstances, the doctor may fail to diagnose the condition altogether. Patients may have a viable legal case if the physician didn’t examine or treat the patient as thoroughly as they should have and the condition would have improved with an earlier diagnosis. 

4. Medication Mistakes

Medication errors can happen in virtually any medical setting. From administering the wrong dose of painkillers to a hospital patient to writing the wrong prescription at a doctor’s office, this issue is fairly common in the medical industry. If receiving the wrong medicine has resulted in serious harm, a malpractice suit may be in order.

5. Hospital Infections

Due to the prevalence of pathogens inside hospitals, they are common places to pick up infections. Bacterial, viral, or fungal infections can occur at surgical sites, in the blood, or can produce illnesses such as pneumonia. The infection must occur within a specific time frame after the procedure or hospital stay to qualify for malpractice, such as three days following discharge.

If you think you or a family member may have experienced medical malpractice, contact the office of Neimark & Neimark. Serving Orange and Rockland counties, NY, this firm of experienced attorneys focuses exclusively on personal injury cases and is available to answer your inquiries around the clock. Find out more about malpractice claims on their website, or call (888) 725-7424 to set up a consultation.