One of the biggest problems in modern healthcare today is medical mistakes. According to a study, up to 250,000 people die in the US each year as a result of medical errors that could have been avoided.
Medical malpractice can be very costly. Wrongful deaths resulting from surgical and drug mistakes indicate a collective risk. Even a slightly low level of patient monitoring causes some serious consequences.
A full understanding of all kinds of medical errors could help you recognize their potential impacts on you or a family member. According to wrongful death lawyer Douglas D. Shaffer, hiring a lawyer can increase your chances of achieving a favorable outcome and obtaining the compensation you deserve.
Let’s discuss the common examples of medical negligence that can result in wrongful death.
Common Types of Medical Errors Leading to Fatalities
Errors that lead to death are some of the most anxiety-inducing events in a person’s life. Mistakes in the diagnosis of an acute problem can be very agonizing, as time and resources are wasted that could have been used for the benefit of another patient.
Medication errors can sometimes have fatal outcomes as a result of an overdose, toxicity resulting from underuse, or even the wrong medication being dispensed. Mistakes in surgeries or leaving instruments inside the patient leave a bigger impact on the victim’s life.
Minor issues may turn into more severe medical conditions if not being closely monitored by health personnel. That underlines the need to uphold and obey the standing medical standard. Failing to conduct effective patient management can pose risks to the safety of patients
Knowledge of these things can empower you to fight for quality healthcare.
Understanding Medical Negligence and Wrongful Death
If you look at medical negligence examples in Georgia and other states, it’s impossible not to mention the duty of care that medical professionals should provide.
Imagine a case where there were symptoms of deterioration in health, but the medical staff missed them. This negligence could result in a very grave physical injury or death.
It is only through a great demonstration of severe negligence that a legal claim can be based on liability for wrongful death. These types of cases directly implicate the doctors’ conduct or matters of their practice. Anyone with concerns about malpractice has to consult a lawyer.
The acknowledgment of the facts and legal rights of someone may help determine whether a medical practitioner was truly guilty of negligence. Holding an individual accountable for negligence could serve as a probable deterrent for others making similar mistakes.
Misdiagnosis: The Silent Killer in Healthcare
A misdiagnosis has the potential to result in severe outcomes. Illnesses may be untreated. Ignored symptoms could lead to patients receiving unwarranted treatments. The same goes for test findings that are not properly understood.
Patients may be faced with a disease that was undetected and, hence, free to grow. For example, a missed cancer diagnosis brings down survival chances abysmally. With an incorrect diagnosis, you may be exposed to drugs that can inflict harm.
These cases should not be ignored. Ask questions as soon as you notice anything unusual. Behind every successful treatment lies a fast and accurate diagnosis.
In case of diagnostic errors, consulting a lawyer is worthwhile since legal professionals can help you collect evidence or fight for accountability for any harm caused.
Surgical Mistakes That Can Lead to Fatal Outcomes
An error during a surgery can turn something relatively small into something life-threatening. Errors such as the surgery being conducted on the wrong individual or the incorrect body part can lead to dangerous complications, severe infections, and in some cases, death.
During anesthesia administration, incorrect pain management can happen when there is inadequate preoperative evaluation of the patient. To avoid unforeseen complications, healthcare providers should be aware of these potential risks.
These things not only come from negligence but also from unawareness and poorly trained staff members. If any surgery error has happened to you or your family, at least consult a lawyer to look for possible remedies and save your rights.
Common Medication Errors and Their Fatal Consequences
Medication errors are frequent and can lead to potentially serious health consequences that end up with unfortunate results. The wrong dosage can inflict various dangerous health conditions in no time and occasionally lead to the patient’s death.
For example, if natural anticoagulant drugs are given at more than a tenfold increase of the normal dosage, serious bleeding will happen. An additional instance is when a patient is given an incorrect drug for allergies. The resulting complications can be life-threatening.
If the information on medication is mismanaged, the wrong doses could directly lead to overdose. When a healthcare provider fails to take into account the side effects of a drug, fatal interactions could happen.
Mistakes in hospital settings could lead to wrongful death and lawsuits for probable malpractice against medical professionals.
Risks of Inadequate Patient Monitoring
Timing plays a very critical role in the field of medicine. Missing the best time to give medication and treatment might be detrimental for the patients.
If patient monitoring happens to be substandard, then a patient can deteriorate fast in health. Any deviation from specified limits in a patient’s condition may go unnoticed, potentially leading to treatment delays.
Failure to monitor such situations might exacerbate organ failure, which might result in death.
Apart from the damages to the organs, a few incurable illnesses, if poorly managed, can lead to preventable emergencies.
Following patient security, advanced monitoring systems lead to quick responses and allow effective implementation and timely healing at each step of the spectrum of care.
Poor Communication in Healthcare: A Recipe for Disaster
Poor communication in healthcare may actually promote misunderstandings over time and put the patient’s well-being at risk. When life-supporting information is not delivered in an unambiguous and upfront manner, the patient would come away from the consultation misinformed with regard to the proper medications and prescriptions.
Should the situation be worse, a false negative may occur or a hidden allergy may go untreated. This outcome can wreak havoc upon the patient.
Poor communication and unclear instructions often lead to delayed patient diagnoses, inadequate counseling, and incorrect surgery, all of which might further add to emotional and physical damage.
Preventive plans are necessary in the face of the above issues to encourage accurate healthcare directives.
Why Seeking Legal Help Matters After a Wrongful Death
The death of a dear person as a result of another person’s neglect can be horrifying and frustrating. Legal aid goes a long way to resolve the issues that involve the wrongful death of a person. A wrongful death claim on the basis of medical malpractice can hold the responsible party liable for their actions or negligence.
A good lawyer will work with you through the intricate legal matters involved in your case. They will gather evidence necessary for the case, interview important witnesses, and put together a convincing defense against you.
Taking legal action helps to hold the people responsible and leads to the organization of resources for medical bills and funerals. A claim can result in the reimbursement of one’s economic losses.
You don’t have to go through this tough situation alone. You just need an efficient team of lawyers to take the burden off of your shoulders and allow you to concentrate on recovery.