Common Types of Medical Malpractice Lawsuits

Every medical malpractice lawsuit is unique, but they often fall into basic categories. Being hurt by the healthcare provider you trust to restore your health can be hard to get past. However, a legal option is available through a medical malpractice claim. While this legal action can’t undo your injury, it can give you the resources needed to heal as much as possible. Talk with an experienced personal injury attorney at Mette Law in Harrisburg, PA, today to discuss your questions and concerns.

Cases Based on Diagnostic Errors

Diagnostic errors are generally considered the most common type of medical error, which makes them the basis for most medical malpractice claims and lawsuits. Errors in diagnosis have significant health implications, and they can take many different forms, including all the following:

• Diagnosing the patient prematurely
• Allowing cognitive bias to affect diagnosis, which relates to allowing one’s mindset to play a role in diagnosis
• Delaying diagnosis unnecessarily
• Diagnosing without the patient’s complete health records
• Failing to implement adequate tests
• Diagnosing without adequately examining the patient

Cases Based on Medication Errors

Medication is an important component of many surgeries and nearly every surgical recovery. Mistakes can happen during prescribing, dispensing, or administering drugs, and the consequences can be serious.

Cases Based on Surgical Errors

There is a range of surgical errors that can support medical malpractice claims. Some of the most common, however, are errors that relate to anesthesia, failure to monitor patients during surgery adequately, and issues regarding sterilization.

There are also surgical errors so serious and preventable that they are commonly referred to as never events. These are less common but so dangerous that they warrant mention. Prime examples include wrong-site surgeries, wrong-person surgeries, and surgeries in which medical instruments are left in the patient.

Cases Based on Errors that Lead to Birth Injuries

Injuries to infants during labor and delivery can lead to lifelong consequences that can also be life-altering. These errors often relate to inadequate fetal monitoring, delayed C-sections, the improper use of forceps or vacuums, and beyond.

Cases Based on Failure to Treat

This category of medical malpractice cases involves medical providers who fail to take adequate action. This can mean simply failing to treat the patient at all, but it goes beyond this. Other examples include discharging patients before it is advised and failing to provide patients with adequate follow-up care.

Consult with an Experienced Injury Lawyer

Our seasoned Harrisburg medical malpractice attorneys at Mette Law recognize how challenging it can be to live with the effects of medical malpractice and are committed to taking the legal actions necessary to help. This includes championing your rights while skillfully advancing your case. Learn more about everything we can do to help you by contacting us online or by calling our firm at 717-232-5000 today.