Every year, thousands of patients are killed or seriously injured due to medical malpractice. In fact, a groundbreaking Johns Hopkins University study suggested that medical malpractice is the third leading cause of death in the United States.
If you or your loved one were harmed by your healthcare provider’s medical error, you need the assistance of an experienced Norristown medical malpractice attorney. Contact Morris Wilson Knepp Jacquette, P.C., today for a free consultation.
Medical Malpractice Defined
Adverse health effects can occur for many reasons, including patients delaying seeking treatment or not following doctors’ instructions. However, patient injuries resulting from healthcare providers’ mistakes may constitute medical malpractice and allow injured patients to pursue compensation for the damages they have suffered.
These mistakes typically occur when a medical professional deviates from the accepted standard of care and harms a patient as a result. An experienced medical malpractice lawyer can review your situation to determine if you have a viable medical malpractice claim.
Common Causes of Medical Malpractice
Some of the leading reasons why medical malpractice occurs include the following:
- Dismissing or overlooking symptoms: Today’s healthcare providers are stressed by the number of patients and often do not spend extensive time with each one. They may reach the most likely conclusion rather than investigate the real cause of the symptoms.
- Misdiagnosing patients: Doctors can mistake symptoms for one medical condition for another, leading to an incorrect diagnosis.
- Failing to order necessary tests: Healthcare providers may fail to order lab work, blood tests, medical scans, MRIs, CT scans, X-rays, or other tests, leaving them without the information needed to make a proper diagnosis.
- Misinterpreting test results: Healthcare professionals might misread diagnostic tests or lab test results.
- Lack of communication: Because many healthcare providers may be involved in a patient’s care, they need to communicate to ensure they have a holistic view of the patient’s condition. When they don’t, the patient can be harmed as a result.
- Poor record-keeping: Systemic and administrative issues can lead to patient charts being incomplete or not being completed correctly. Patient files can also be mixed up, leading to mistakes.
If you suspect that your healthcare provider has committed any of these mistakes or other forms of medical malpractice, reach out to an experienced attorney for legal assistance and representation.
Who Can Be Held Responsible for Medical Malpractice?
Various healthcare providers can be held liable for medical malpractice, as mistakes can occur at any time during the diagnostic and treatment journey. Medical providers who might be named in medical malpractice cases might include:
- Primary care doctors
- Nurses
- Dentists
- Radiologists
- Lab technicians
- Specialists
- Nurse practitioners
- Hospitals
- Medical centers
- Diagnostic imaging centers
- Surgeons
Our experienced legal team can review your particular situation and determine the parties to name in your medical malpractice case.
Get Help Now
If you or a loved one was harmed due to the actions or inactions of your medical care team, an experienced Norristown medical malpractice lawyer from Morris Wilson Knepp Jacquette can help. Contact us today to take advantage of a free consultation with a member of our legal team.