Leading Causes of Medical Malpractice Claims in the State
When a doctor, nurse, or other healthcare provider causes you preventable harm, you might be entitled to compensation through a medical malpractice claim. Unfortunately, medical mistakes are widespread in Virginia and throughout the United States. Some of the most common medical malpractice claims are caused by mere inattention or miscommunication but can have deadly results.
At Coletrane & Messersmith, we represent individuals who have sustained injuries due to medical malpractice. Whether your surgeon made a mistake or a nurse administered the wrong amount of medication, we may be able to help. Medical negligence is costly and often avoidable. If you or a loved one suffered harm due to medical malpractice, contact our office at (757) 744-6315 to schedule a free consultation.
Leading causes of medical malpractice claims in Virginia include:
Inadequate Care
Poor pre- or post-procedure care can be extremely dangerous. A practitioner’s failure to recognize an underlying condition or infection may create an adverse reaction during surgery or another medical procedure.
One of the most common forms of inadequate care that results in medical malpractice is improper prenatal care. During prenatal appointments, medical professionals should constantly be monitoring for fetal distress or other warning signs. A failure to recognize and treat these symptoms can cause harm to the mother or child.
Delayed Diagnosis or Misdiagnosis
A significant number of medical malpractice claims result from a misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis. When a doctor fails to recognize and treat an illness, condition, or disease, the results can be fatal.
If you received the wrong diagnosis or your provider failed to diagnose your condition timely, you might be entitled to financial recovery. It is important to act quickly as you only have a limited amount of time to file a claim for damages.
Anesthesia Errors
Anesthesia errors are another common medical mistake. It can have disastrous effects if an anesthesiologist administers too much or too little of the medicine. A failure to diagnose an allergic reaction to the drug may also result in liability.
Medication Errors
In addition to errors related to the administration of anesthetics, other medication mistakes are prevalent. Typical medication errors include providing the wrong medication, providing an incorrect dosage, or failing to identify potential problems with other drugs a patient is taking.
Birth Injuries
Childbirth injuries are any trauma sustained before, during, or immediately following the labor and delivery process. Birth injuries can cause lifelong problems.
Common injuries caused by birth trauma:
- Brachial palsy
- Facial paralysis
- Broken bones or fractures
- Cerebral palsy
- Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE)
- Cephalohematoma
Birth injuries are often caused by a medical provider’s negligence including the failure to order a necessary cesarean section (c-section) or detect fetal distress.
Failure to Diagnose
Diagnostic errors are becoming increasingly common. In some cases, a healthcare provider may fail to diagnose your illness, injury, or condition. The results can be catastrophic. A failure to diagnose may cause timely delays in treatment or care.
A related medical malpractice claim may be for a failure to treat. Failure to treat occurs when a doctor ignores the symptoms you present. Whether they fail to monitor your condition, order the proper tests, or inform you of all of your options it might result in liability.
Dangerous, Defective Medical Equipment
Each year thousands of dangerous and defective medical devices and drugs are recalled. In some instances, the device can cause life-threatening injuries and medical conditions.
Recently recalled medical devices include:
- Insulin pumps
- Transvaginal mesh
- Metal hip implants
- Spinal cord stimulators
- Defibrillators
- Pacemakers
If a medical device fails causing you harm, you need to consult with an attorney. You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries.
Surgical Errors
Finally, surgical errors or mistakes made during medical procedures are a leading cause of medical malpractice claims. Surgical errors may include wrong site, wrong patient, or wrong procedure events. Leaving a foreign object in a patient is another problematic surgical mistake that can have serious, adverse health effects.
Hiring a Medical Malpractice Lawyer in Virginia
If you believe that a medical mistake resulted in harm to you or a loved one, contact our office at (757) 744-6315 for a free consultation. We are experienced, skilled medical malpractice attorneys that will work tirelessly to get you the largest possible recovery. We have secured millions in verdicts and settlements for our clients. Call our office now to speak with an attorney.
