The idea that you can suffer harm while under the care of a hospital or doctor can be tough to swallow. Nevertheless, the reality is that thousands of patients fall victim every year to treatment errors, prescription errors, misdiagnosis, and other forms of medical malpractice.
We have written extensively about what Kentucky residents need to know about medical malpractice. Here are some of the highlights:
Most Common Cause of Medical Malpractice is Misdiagnosis
The most common form of medical malpractice is failure to properly diagnose a patient’s illness or injuries. Misdiagnosis can result in not only the patient failing to receive treatment for his or her condition, but also receiving improper treatment that can cause further harm.
Informed Consent and Medical Malpractice
With only limited exceptions, your healthcare provider must obtain express written consent before performing any medical procedure. This requires that you be fully informed of the reasoning, risks, and consequences of the proposed course of treatment. If you receive unwanted treatment without your consent – or if you consent to treatment because your doctor did not adequately explain the risks – you may have a claim for medical malpractice.
Common Medication Errors
Medication errors are another form of medical malpractice. These errors fall into two main categories: (i) improper prescription, and (ii) improper administration of medication. While it is ultimately your care provider’s responsibility to ensure that you do not receive an improper dosage or unsafe combination of drugs, there are some easy and important steps you can take to help protect yourself from doctors’ and nurses’ mistakes.
Nurses Say Electronic Health Record Systems Hurt Patient Care
With the prevalence of medical malpractice issues, you may be surprised to learn that hospitals continue to implement systems that nurses say are making it harder to provide proper medical care. New technologies that reduce front-end costs are preventing care providers from communicating effectively with their patients, and potentially increasing the risk of medical mistakes.
Understanding the Risks of Plastic Surgery
Plastic surgery is used for far more than just elective cosmetic procedures. Plastic surgery also helps correct birth abnormalities, and can restore functionality and appearance for patients who have suffered burns and other serious injuries. Unfortunately, surgical errors are not uncommon, with victims regularly suffering from infections, scars, severe pain, nerve damage, and a variety of other types of complications.
New Study Reports that 31% of NICU Deaths are Preventable
A study released in December 2014 reports that 31% of all neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) deaths may be preventable through the exercise of proper medical care. While factors relating to premature births and in-term drug use account for a significant portion of NICU deaths, medical errors and inadequate treatment facilities continue to contribute to the number of avoidable infant mortalities as well.
Gladstein Law Firm, PLLC
Seth Gladstein is an attorney who represents victims of medical malpractice. To arrange a time to speak with Seth about your case, please contact us today.
