When you visit the doctor, either for yourself or for your child, you expect them to help you stay well. Though many doctors do exactly that, it’s important to remember that they’re human and can make mistakes. Unfortunately, mistakes can lead to severe injury, suffering and costly medical treatments that can cause financial hardship. If you or your loved one has been injured by a doctor, you may have grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit. Here’s what your Pennsylvania medical malpractice lawyer wants you to understand about these types of claims.
What Is Medical Malpractice?
Medical malpractice refers to injuries resulting in a doctor’s failure to practice medicine up to the accepted standard of care. Some incidents can be minor and may result in small injuries that are easy to recover from. However, others can result in life-long complications that make it difficult to live life normally and may cause undue financial burdens as you pursue treatments for your condition.
If you or a loved one is the victim of medical malpractice, you may be able to file a lawsuit against the doctor or medical care providers involved in the incident. If successful, you could receive damages to help you cover the cost of your medical care as well as compensation to provide for your pain and suffering.
What Medical Malpractice Looks Like
Understanding what counts as medical malpractice can help you better determine if filing a lawsuit with the help of a Pennsylvania medical malpractice attorney is something you should consider. Here are a few examples of medical malpractice that people may experience.
Misdiagnosis of Conditions
Mistakes happen, but doctors are supposed to accurately diagnose your condition to help you receive the proper treatment. If your doctor misdiagnoses a condition that has clear and identifiable symptoms and administers treatments that don’t work or make your condition worse, you may have a case for medical malpractice.
Delayed Diagnosis of Conditions
Failure to diagnose your condition or failing to diagnose your condition in time for you to receive proper treatment may qualify as medical malpractice. Remember, doctors are expected to be able to help you maintain or regain your health as best as possible. If you don’t receive the care you need in time, they could end up causing you harm. If you experience this, speaking with a malpractice attorney could be a good option.
Medication Errors and Mistakes
Medications should always be given in a way that promotes your health. They should not be prescribed if they could react negatively to medications you’re required to continue taking if you’re allergic to them, or know that you react poorly to the medication. If your doctor gives you medication that’s harmful to your health or administers or prescribes the wrong medication for your condition, they could be liable for damages.
Surgical Errors and Mistakes
Surgeons should enter the operating room knowing exactly which surgery they’re conducting and which parts of their body they’ll be operating on. If they perform the wrong surgery or make a mistake that could’ve been prevented during your surgery, they may be liable for malpractice.
What to Do if You’re a Victim of Medical Malpractice
If you think you’ve been a victim of medical malpractice, the best thing you can do is speak with an experienced Pennsylvania medical malpractice attorney. At Latona Law, our team is here to help. We understand the challenges that can arise from medical malpractice and want to help you hold your medical care providers accountable for their actions. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and see if your case qualifies as medical malpractice.