What is Medical Malpractice or Negligence?
Healthcare professionals frequently perform heroic work in saving lives, exercising professionalism, integrity, and great care. However, they are not without fault, and sometimes mistakes happen that result in severe injuries and even death. They may fail to provide adequate care or follow the universal standards of practice when delivering treatment.
Medical malpractice or negligence is not uncommon, but many patients may not realize it when it happens. If you believe that you or your loved one suffered medical injuries that could have been avoided, it’s crucial to consult personal injury attorneys in Florida for legal counsel. They can help you pursue a medical malpractice claim against the negligent parties.
How Can I Know If I Have a Case for Medical Malpractice?
Medical malpractice takes many forms, but the consequences can be severe and potentially life-changing. Medical malpractice lawyers in Florida can evaluate your case and help you recognize the signs that you might have a medical malpractice case. Some of the common types of medical negligence and malpractice by healthcare professionals include the following:
Failure to Diagnose a Disease
Failure to diagnose happens when a doctor dismisses a patient's symptoms and, therefore, misses the early signs of a disease. A patient may return to the doctor's office repeatedly, only to be told nothing is wrong with them each time. The condition can become more complicated or cause death.
For example, doctors may fail to diagnose the disease early. Delayed diagnosis could qualify as medical malpractice when the illness is curable if detected early enough. If you or your loved one have a condition that the doctor failed to diagnose, you could have a medical malpractice case. Contact Florida medical malpractice lawyers for advice.
Misdiagnosis
Another closely similar and potentially fatal medical malpractice is misdiagnosis. A doctor may attribute a patient's symptoms to the wrong illness, leading to the administration of treatment and medications that further complicate or deteriorate the patient's condition. You could have been a victim of medical malpractice if your symptoms don't seem to match the diagnosis given.
To protect yourself, you must stay informed about your medical condition and research deeply, even if you're not a medical practitioner. You should get a second opinion from a different healthcare provider. If it turns out you were misdiagnosed, you could pursue a medical malpractice case with the help of skilled Florida personal injury lawyers.
Lack of Informed Consent
Medical practitioners must obtain consent from a patient before treatment or surgery. They should inform patients about the benefits and risks associated with the available treatment plans. This information is crucial in enabling patients to make informed decisions about treatment options.
Failure to obtain a patient's informed consent may be considered medical malpractice, but there may be exceptions in some cases, depending on the specifics. Medical malpractice attorneys in Florida cite the following examples of medical malpractice based on lack of informed consent:
- Not obtaining consent before performing a medical procedure
- Failing to explain the risks of treatment
- Not allowing the patient to decline treatment or choose an alternative because the practitioner didn't explain the risks adequately.
- The healthcare provider didn't identify all the potential complications of the treatment plan
Ongoing or Worsening Symptoms After Treatment
A medical condition that worsens after treatment could indicate medical malpractice because it could be that the injury was not treated properly. Doctors should administer treatment under the accepted standards of care, failure to which they can be found liable for damages resulting from their negligence.
A common reason why symptoms worsen after treatment is misdiagnosis. For example, if a doctor determined that you had an infection and gave you antibiotics to treat the symptoms, but the symptoms worsened, the doctor could have mismanaged or misdiagnosed the condition.
Complications After Surgery
Another scenario of medical malpractice is unusual bleeding, bruising, or swelling after surgery. Some surgical errors may not cause major damage to the patient, but others may lead to life-threatening complications or even wrongful death. Some common surgical errors include:
- Operating on the wrong part of the body, different from the one intended
- Not upholding high standards of hygiene, which results in complications
- Improper treatment of infections
- Not correctly identifying tissues during surgery
- Leaving foreign material or surgical tools in the body
You could be wondering about your legal options if you have been a victim of surgical error. Skilled lawyers can establish if you have grounds for a medical malpractice claim.
Wrong Medication or Dosage
Medical complications can arise if a doctor prescribes medication that could interfere with the patient's current health condition or medications. Every medical practitioner must check to ensure the prescribed drugs will treat the diagnosed condition. It should not harm the patient if taken in the prescribed dosage based on the list of other medications and the patient's medical history.
Lack of Follow-Up by the Doctor Concerning Your Raised Concerns
Doctors should always be available to answer questions and address concerns raised by their patients, especially if the patient is experiencing unusual or adverse side effects. Not following up on patience is negligence that could further complicate the condition, leading to fatalities.
An Experienced Personal Injury Attorney Helping You Recognize Signs of Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice can be hard to recognize, especially if you don't understand your rights as a patient. It can happen in various forms, some of which may seem subtle and harmless but could lead to severe complications. If you believe that you or your loved one didn't receive the medical care you deserved, don't suffer in silence. Medical malpractice attorneys in Florida can help.
The Dellutri Law Group has knowledgeable and dedicated personal injury attorneys who can investigate your case and provide legal support to fight for your rights. We care for every one of our clients and believe their case is not just a number. We are here to help, so call us at 800-391-4337 to schedule a complimentary strategy session.
