At one point or another, the majority of us will require some form of medical treatment. The professional relationship between medical practitioners and patients is significant because it is founded upon a duty of care. The same can be said for medical facilities and those for whom they provide services.
As with all humans, medical professionals are not immune from making errors. Unfortunately, mistakes made in a medical context can have life-altering consequences. As a result, it is worth considering some of the more regular forms of medical errors. Outlined below are three common types of medical malpractice.
Misdiagnosis
The failure to misdiagnose severe conditions is the most common type of medical malpractice. In cases that involve a serious injury, a failure to diagnose can result in life-changing consequences. For example, a misdiagnosis with a fractured leg could result in a person losing the use of that leg. In more extreme cases, misdiagnosis can be fatal, particularly when considering ailments such as cancer.
Errors with medication
There are numerous ways that errors with medication can occur. For example, a medical professional could administer the wrong dosage. Furthermore, breakdowns in communication can result in the wrong kind of medication being dispensed by a pharmacist. Additionally, patients might have allergies which means they can react badly to certain types of treatment. Mistakes made with drugs can be life-altering and even fatal in severe cases.
Failure to treat infections
Hospitals can be a hotbed for infections. At times, these conditions cannot be helped. However, poor hygiene standards can result in an increased possibility of infections. In vulnerable patients, infections present a high risk and may be fatal under certain conditions.
As a patient, you have a right to the highest standards of care from your medical professionals. If you feel that your rights have been breached, then there could be legal options open to you.