Top 5 Types of Medical Malpractice Cases That Require a Lawyer

Medical malpractice occurs when a health care professional makes an avoidable error during diagnosis or treatment and causes unnecessary pain and suffering to the patient. Medical errors are the leading cause of injury and preventable harm in the health care system. It is the third leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for 251,000 deaths annually, and a common cause of iatrogenic adverse outcomes. Below, we highlight five types of medical malpractice cases that require a lawyer.

Top 5 Types of Medical Malpractice Cases That Require a Lawyer

Failure To Treat

Failure to treat happens when a doctor fails to order appropriate medical tests, fails to administer follow-up care, releases a patient too soon from the hospital, or fails to consider a patient’s medical history when treating the patient or prescribing medicine. 

Often, when confronted, doctors who did not provide appropriate treatment will shift the blame to other medical professionals. Therefore, it is vitally important to consult a medical malpractice lawyer in Maryland who will help you collect sufficient evidence and file a medical malpractice lawsuit against the responsible parties.

Misdiagnosis or Delayed Diagnosis

In the United States, 12 million people are misdiagnosed each year and at least 5 percent of adults who receive outpatient care experience a diagnostic error. Misdiagnoses occur when doctors fail to refer a patient to a specialist, recognize clinical symptoms, or order medical tests. Delayed diagnosis can occur when test results get lost, lab test results are mislabeled, or when test results are poorly evaluated. If you are confident that you have a case against your doctor for misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis, you should consult a medical malpractice lawyer in Maryland. A lawyer can represent you in court as needed and help you get the compensation you deserve. 

Prescription Drug Errors

Prescription drug errors occur when a doctor prescribes an incorrect dosage (this can be too little or too much), prescribes the wrong medication for a diagnosed condition, or fails to recognize allergic reactions. If a prescription drug error caused you pain and suffering, reach out to a medical malpractice lawyer in Maryland, who will help you establish a prescription drug error claim. 

Surgical or Procedural Errors

Some mistakes that occur during an emergency or elective surgery include reactions to anesthesia, performing surgery on the wrong part of the body, performing surgery on the wrong person, and leaving gauze, tools, and other medical devices inside the patient. 

If you underwent surgery and suffered an injury because of a surgical error, you should contact a medical malpractice lawyer in Maryland, who will help you hold the surgeon liable for any damages and pursue compensation for your injuries. 

Childbirth Injuries Cases

Childbirth injuries can be caused by substandard parental care, failure to recognize fetal stress, failure to perform a cesarean section when necessary, or shaking, dropping, or mishandling a baby during or after birth. If your child has suffered an avoidable birth injury, a medical malpractice lawyer from Maryland can help you take legal action against those responsible for your child’s injury and access compensation to pay for your child’s treatment.  

Seek the services of a Medical Malpractice Lawyer in Maryland

Above are five types of medical malpractice cases that require a lawyer. If you have sustained injuries due to medical malpractice, contact a lawyer who will help you demonstrate a link between the malpractice and your injury and ensure that you are fully compensated for your injuries.