Medical malpractice is a costly and complex issue, and one that often leads to lawsuits. If you’re a medical practitioner, it’s important to be aware of the top medical malpractice mistakes that can put you at risk for a lawsuit.
- Failing to get informed consent. One of the most common medical malpractice mistakes is failing to obtain informed consent from patients before performing procedures. Informed consent means that the patient has been fully informed of the risks and benefits of a procedure, and has given their consent to proceed. Without informed consent, patients may later claim that they were not adequately informed of the risks involved, and sue for damages.
- Performing unnecessary procedures. Another common mistake that can lead to medical malpractice lawsuits is performing unnecessary procedures. This can happen when a doctor recommends a procedure that is not medically necessary, or when a doctor performs a procedure without first getting the patient’s consent. Patients who undergo unnecessary procedures may suffer complications from the procedure itself, and may also sue for damages.
- Failing to properly diagnose a condition. Diagnosing a condition correctly is critical to providing proper treatment. When doctors fail to properly diagnose a condition, patients may receive ineffective or even dangerous treatments. In some cases, this can lead to serious health complications or even death. If you are misdiagnosed, you may have a medical malpractice claim against the doctor who failed to properly diagnose your condition.
- Failing to provide proper treatment. Once a diagnosis has been made, it is important that patients receive proper treatment. This means that the doctor must select the appropriate course of treatment and administer it correctly. If a doctor fails to provide proper treatment, the patient may suffer further health complications or even death.
- Committing errors during surgery. Surgery is an extremely complex medical procedure, and even small mistakes can have serious consequences. If a surgeon makes an error during surgery, the patient may suffer serious health complications or even death. Patients who have been harmed by surgical errors may sue for damages.
- Prescribing dangerous drugs. Another common mistake that can lead to medical malpractice lawsuits is prescribing dangerous drugs. Drugs are powerful substances that can have serious side effects, and some drugs may even be deadly. If a doctor prescribes a dangerous drug to a patient, the patient may suffer serious health complications or even death. Patients who have been harmed by dangerous drugs may sue for damages.
- Failing to follow up with patients. After a medical procedure, it is important for doctors to follow up with patients to ensure that they are healing properly and to monitor their progress. If a doctor fails to follow up with a patient, the patient may suffer further health complications or even death. Patients who have been harmed by a failure to receive proper follow-up care may sue for damages.
- Making errors in medical records. Medical records are an important part of any medical practice, and they must be accurate. If a doctor makes an error in a medical record, the patient may suffer serious health complications or even death. Patients who have been harmed by errors in medical records may sue for damages.
- Failing to obtain proper consent. As with any medical procedure, it is important for doctors to obtain proper consent from patients before performing procedures. Without proper consent, patients may later claim that they were not adequately informed of the risks involved, and sue for damages.
- Failing to meet the standard of care. Medical practitioners are required to meet a certain standard of care when treating patients. If a doctor fails to meet this standard of care, the patient may suffer serious health complications or even death. Patients who have been harmed by a failure to meet the standard of care may sue for damages.
These are just some of the most common mistakes that can lead to medical malpractice lawsuits. If you believe that you or a loved one has been harmed by medical negligence, you should speak with an experienced Ohio medical malpractice lawyer to learn more about your legal rights and options.
