A Philadelphia medical malpractice claim is a type of personal injury lawsuit based on medical professional negligence. Malpractice claims focus on whether a healthcare provider violated their professional standard of care, which is the level of skill and treatment that a reasonably competent medical professional with similar training would have provided.
Any medical provider can commit malpractice. Likewise, it can occur in any procedure or course of treatment.
The Most Common Types of Medical Malpractice Claims
Medical negligence can take many different forms. Some of the most common types of medical malpractice claims include:
Misdiagnosis
Misdiagnosis occurs when a healthcare provider incorrectly identifies a patient’s condition or illness. This can lead to ineffective treatment and expose the patient to unnecessary risks while the actual medical issue goes unaddressed. A misdiagnosis may involve confusing one condition for another or misinterpreting diagnostic tests, such as lab results or imaging. Inaccurate diagnoses can result in harmful treatments or delays in addressing a serious or life-threatening condition.
Delayed Diagnosis
A Philadelphia delayed diagnosis case happens when a medical provider fails to identify an adverse medical condition within a reasonable timeframe. Even if the ultimate diagnosis is correct, the delay can allow a disease or injury to progress to a more advanced and dangerous stage. Delayed diagnoses often result from failures to order appropriate tests, follow up on abnormal results, or refer patients to specialists. In many cases, earlier detection would have significantly improved the patient’s prognosis or treatment options.
Failure to Treat
Failure to treat occurs when a healthcare provider identifies a medical condition but does not take appropriate action to address it. This failure may include not providing treatment at all. More often, it results from discontinuing treatment too soon or failing to escalate care when a patient’s condition worsens. Even with a correct diagnosis, neglecting to treat a condition properly can result in preventable complications.
Surgical Errors
Surgical errors involve mistakes made before, during, or after a surgical procedure. These errors may involve:
- The wrong body part (wrong site)
- Performing the wrong procedure
- Leaving surgical instruments or sponges inside a patient
- Causing unnecessary damage to surrounding organs or tissues.
Surgical errors can lead to severe complications and infections.
Medication Errors
Medication error cases in Philadelphia occur when a patient is given the wrong medication, the incorrect dosage, or an improper application of a medicine. These mistakes can happen at any stage, including prescribing, dispensing, or administering a drug. Medication errors may cause serious adverse reactions and worsening of the underlying condition.
Birth Injuries
Birth injuries may affect the baby, the mother, or both. They often result from negligent care during pregnancy, labor, or delivery, including inadequate prenatal monitoring, failure to address fetal distress, delayed cesarean sections, or improper use of forceps or vacuum extractors. These injuries can have lifelong consequences for children.
Anesthesia Mistakes
Anesthesia mistakes can lead to serious complications such as brain damage, cardiac arrest, or respiratory failure. They often stem from improper dosing, failure to monitor vital signs, or administering anesthesia without properly reviewing a patient’s medical history.
Hospital-Acquired Infections
Hospital-acquired infections develop when patients are exposed to bacteria or other pathogens during medical care. These infections are often linked to poor sanitation. However, they can also come about through improper sterilization of equipment or failure to follow established infection-control procedures. Hospital-acquired infections can worsen existing conditions and even become life-threatening.
Contact an Experienced Medical Malpractice Lawyer for Help With Your Claim
If you or a loved one has been harmed by medical care, you should speak with an experienced Philadelphia birth injury lawyer for help understanding your rights and pursuing compensation for medical bills and other damages. An attorney can guide you through the process and protect your interests while you focus on recovery.
Contact Morris Wilson Knepp Jacquette, P.C., to schedule a free consultation to discuss your legal options.