Article Avenue - free articles and downloads - Types Of Medical Malpractice

Medical Malpractice are becoming a frequent occurrence nowadays. Due to this, doctors' insurance premiums have increased due to the number of lawsuits filed each year.

In 1999, the Institute of Medicine reported 98,000 deaths caused by medical malpractice every year. In a 2006 follow up research, the report indicates 1.5 million injuries caused by medical negligence annually. In terms of severity, in house patients have suffered a whole lot more than out patients. However in terms of quantity, out patient settings have caused greater number of errors and deaths than hospital patients.

Here is a list of the common types of medical malpractice:

Misdiagnosis

- It is the responsibility of the doctor to properly identify the patients illness. This is actually one of the most crucial stages of treatment because if one is diagnosed incorrectly, it follows that the medication is also incorrect. It is very important that the doctors thoroughly analyze the results of tests and examinations. According to research failure to diagnose breast cancer has comprised 40% of medical malpractice lawsuits.

Medication Errors

- Failure to provide the correct medication and treatment comprise a large percentage of medical malpractice cases. It could be in the form of wrong medicine, incorrect dosage, incorrect prescription, and incorrect medicine combination. Instead of alleviating the patients condition, medication errors cause further damage or even wrongful death.

Birth Injuries

- Childbirth complications endanger both the baby and the mothers life. Medical malpractice in childbirth can be caused by one or a combination of the following: failure to provide pre-natal care, failure to administer tests that can indicate abnormalities, failure to recognize symptoms of fetal distress, hastening of childbirth which caused injuries for the baby and the mother, and finally failure to provide proper care to premature babies. This negligence may result to cerebral palsy, erbs palsy, and clavicle fracture.

Surgical Errors

- A lot of malpractice in the operating room happen because of lack of pre-operative preparation and standard care. Surgical errors such as puncturing internal organs, failure to administer proper dose of anesthesia, operating the wrong body part, leaving surgical instruments and performing improper surgical techniques can all cause severe and fatal damages.

Anesthesia Malpractice

- The anesthesiologist uses a very sensitive and cautious technique in administering anesthesia. He/She must know any pre-existing condition that the patient might be suffering in order to prevent any type of complication. Overdose or incorrect use of anesthesia can cause to severe injuries or even death.

Other forms of medical malpractice also happen in specialized fields such as dentistry, gynecology, and pharmacy. Pharmacists who fail to provide the right medicine based on the doctor's prescription can be sued for malpractice. Unreasonable delay of treatment caused by the inability to obtain timely consent for a major surgery can be a solid ground for a lawsuit. It is important to immediately contact a medical malpractice lawyer in your area if you feel that you are a victim of medical malpractice.

===================================================

About the Author:

Joanne Aika Castillo is a legal researcher and writer. Her research focuses on Medical Malpractice cases in Illinois. For information on Illinois Medical Negligence Attorneys, please visit Lavin Law Offices now.