In many instances of medical malpractice, a patient can be severely injured or even permanently disabled due to a medical professional’s negligence. As severe as these consequences can be, they are, unfortunately, not the worst possible outcomes.
Three Common Medical Mistakes That May Cause Death
Many other medical errors can be fatal for patients. When negligence is a factor in how a patient’s health is assessed and the quality of healthcare they receive, they can become terminally ill or even die as a direct result of such negligence.
Keep reading to learn more about common medical errors that can be fatal, and consult with a medical malpractice lawyer if you believe you or a loved one is a victim of a negligent medical error.
1. Failure to Diagnose or Incorrect Diagnosis
Doctors who are negligent in diagnosing their patients can miss early opportunities for life-saving treatment. When this happens, a patient who may have had their life saved or extended through medical intervention may become terminally ill. Likewise, a patient with a serious illness can be misdiagnosed with a less severe condition because of a doctor’s incompetence.
Doctors are trained to observe a patient’s symptoms, conduct tests, and interpret all available information to arrive at an accurate diagnosis. The process isn’t foolproof, however, and there are many situations in which a patient’s true medical ailment can appear as another. When the doctor’s negligence is a factor in their failure to diagnose or misdiagnosis, however, a patient or their loved ones may have a medical malpractice claim.
2. Errors in Communication
Communication is a key factor in treating a patient, especially when one or more medical professionals must communicate and share information with each other. If one or more of the parties involved in a patient’s treatment doesn’t send or receive the correct message, this can result in the patient failing to receive medical care or receiving an incorrect treatment.
This scenario can easily play out in a hospital setting, and sometimes with fatal consequences. If not all parties from doctors to nurses and hospital administrators properly communicate, a patient can die as a result.
3. Medication Errors
A medication error is an often unanticipated manifestation of medical negligence. When a doctor prescribes a medication, many patients take it for granted that the medication will help them heal or treat a symptom – not lead to a potentially worse outcome.
That said, negligent doctors can write scripts that can be deadly for their patients. A patient may be misdiagnosed and given a drug or dosage that they do not need. Doctors can also fail to take into account a patient’s other health conditions that can make the side effects of a drug fatal.
Additionally, an otherwise acceptable prescription can be improperly dispensed by the pharmacist, causing a patient to receive an incorrect drug or dosage that can be fatal.
Reach Out to Us for Legal Assistance
If you or a loved one became a victim of medical negligence that caused death or terminal illness, you can fight to recover compensation for your loss. Although nothing can replace your health or that of a loved one, you shouldn’t have to endure financial hardship caused by a medical professional’s negligence.
We at the Law Office of David Kates can help. With more than 20 years of legal experience in medical malpractice disputes, our attorney has what it takes to help you field your claim. Rest assured that with the Law Office of David Kates at your side, you can have the personalized and tenacious legal support you need during this time.
For more information or to request a consultation, contact us online.