| Â | | | | cancer. It can also include a delayed diagnosis or |
| You want the best medical care possible. You get | | | | under-diagnosing a condition (i.e., misreading the |
| a second opinion just to be sure. You put your | | | | signs and symptoms exhibited by the patient). |
| trust and faith in your medical professionals. After | | | | · Nursing Home Abuse/Neglect: |
| all, they went to school for years studying | | | | Medical malpractice claims in this situation are |
| anatomy, drugs and their possible interactions, | | | | generally based on physical abuse or neglect. |
| diseases, chemistry, and you didn't. You expect | | | | Elderly patients receiving substandard care are |
| them to know how to do their job. | | | | often deprived of food, medication and inadequate |
| Should that trust and faith be broken, and you | | | | hygiene assistance. This kind of treatment |
| sustain injuries, it could be medical malpractice. | | | | frequently leads to malnutrition, starvation, |
| Medical malpractice is making medical mistakes. | | | | additional illnesses or death. |
| Medical mistakes can include a wide range of | | | | · Wrongful Death: This can often |
| situations. Here are just a few of the more | | | | occur in part due to anesthesia or surgical errors. |
| common types of medical malpractice claims: | | | | But a wrongful death medical malpractice claim |
| · Anesthesia: Administering | | | | can also be associated with a failure to diagnose, |
| anesthesia prior to and during surgery requires a | | | | as in the case of cancer. |
| very unique understanding of the both the drug | | | | Other areas of medical malpractice include giving |
| and patients' ability to handle it. If the wrong | | | | patients the wrong medication, emergency room |
| amount of anesthesia is given to the patient, it | | | | errors, child birth injuries (i.e., cerebral palsy) and |
| can lead to serious complications, even death on | | | | general improper procedures and treatment. |
| the operating table. | | | | Medical mistakes don't happen to everyone, but |
| · Surgical Errors: Any surgery comes | | | | they do happen. Be sure you know the history of |
| with risks but those risks shouldn't have to include | | | | your medical professionals. Don't be afraid to get |
| incompetence or negligence on the part of the | | | | a second opinion if surgery is recommended. |
| surgical staff. Surgical errors can include operating | | | | Knowing your own family history can help your |
| on the wrong area of the patient, performing | | | | physicians understand your own health better. |
| unnecessary or incorrect surgery, and leaving | | | | Investigate any nursing home you might be |
| surgical instruments in the body. | | | | considering. Check with the appropriate health |
| · Failure to Diagnose: It is estimated | | | | department for violations and complaints. Your |
| that the failure to diagnose a condition constitutes | | | | trust and faith can be rewarded if you take the |
| roughly 40% of all medical malpractice claims. The | | | | time to educate yourself along the way. |
| most prominent failure to diagnose claim is for | | | | |