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When medical professionals make mistakes, patients and their families have a right to sue. Medical malpractice lawsuits aren\u2019t uncommon<\/a>, unfortunately. There are a few common types of medical malpractice, but ultimately, any mistake a doctor makes that affects a patient negatively can be grounds for a suit.\u00a0<\/span> Medical malpractice occurs when a physician, dentist, nurse, or other medical professional provides inadequate care that leads to the injury or illness of a patient. On average, <\/span>about 20,000 medical malpractice lawsuits<\/span><\/a> are filed each year. That\u2019s only the reported cases, though. It\u2019s estimated that only about 2% of medical malpractice incidents result in a filed claim.\u00a0<\/span> Malpractice lawsuits happen for a number of reasons. Some have more serious consequences, but all types of medical malpractice cases can end in expensive payouts.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Misdiagnosing or not diagnosing an issue in time is one of the most common types of medical malpractice. Misdiagnosis can come in a few different forms, including:<\/span><\/p>\n Misdiagnosing a patient can cause an illness to progress, which can lead to further complications or death. Lyme disease is a very common illness that\u2019s misdiagnosed. Common symptoms include fatigue and headache, which are similar symptoms for many illnesses.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n You might not like to hear it, but medical errors are a reality of practicing medicine. After all, doctors are only human. <\/span>About 30% of all malpractice claims<\/span><\/a> are due to an error in medical care. These errors can be anything from prescribing the wrong medication, to surgical errors or anesthesia errors.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Even if the diagnosis is correct, if a provider gives the wrong treatment this could end in severe injury or death. If that\u2019s the case, the patient or their family may sue anyone involved in the care of the patient.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If a physician makes an error during the pregnancy, labor, or delivery of a baby, they could face a malpractice suit. Cerebral palsy is an example of a common birth injury that happens when a baby doesn\u2019t get enough oxygen during and right after birth.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Another example is improper monitoring during and before pregnancy which leads to unnecessary harm to the baby. Failing to perform a necessary C-section is also a common birth injury suit.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In 2016 alone, <\/span>there were about 1,000 malpractice lawsuits against dentists<\/span><\/a>. About 85% of those claims were due to poor techniques that caused an undue injury. Errors that dentists make tend to be more costly than other doctors because dental mistakes can result in especially costly procedures over the course of a patient\u2019s life.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Hospital infections happen at a fairly high rate. According to the CDC<\/span>, 1 in 25 patients get an infection related to hospital care. These infections can cause other illnesses and even death for those who are immunocompromised. While not all of these infections can be prevented, some happen due to unsanitary conditions or negligence by providers.\u00a0<\/span> No one expects doctors to be perfect every single second of the day, but there are mistakes that can easily be avoided. To ensure you\u2019re avoiding unnecessary errors on your part, consider the following tips.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Empathy can go a long way in making a patient feel more comfortable. When you take the time to think about how scared and confused your patients may be, you can provide more effective care. Communicating effectively and clearly with your patients will help them gain more confidence in you.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Informed consent is extremely important, and if a patient doesn\u2019t fully understand the risks of surgery, they could be making the wrong decision for their health. Take the time to truly explain and answer any questions your patient might have. And get consent in writing <\/span>every<\/span><\/i> time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Pride should never get in the way of you providing the best possible care to your patients. If you don\u2019t know the answer to your patient\u2019s questions or simply can\u2019t give a fully confident diagnosis, ask someone who might. This is especially important for residents who are still learning.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If you go to court to handle a medical malpractice lawsuit, you\u2019ll need to provide your lawyer with as much documentation as you can. Yes, you can\u2019t document every single thing, or else you\u2019d never have the time to see more than a few patients, but when you do take notes, <\/span>do the following<\/span><\/a>:<\/span><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\nWhat is Medical Malpractice?<\/h2>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\nTypes of Medical Malpractice<\/h2>\n
Misdiagnosis<\/h3>\n
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Errors<\/h3>\n
Incorrect treatment<\/h3>\n
Birth injury<\/h3>\n
Dental mistakes<\/h3>\n
Failure to prevent or treat infection<\/h3>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\nHow to Avoid Medical Malpractice<\/h2>\n
Consider how your patients feel<\/h3>\n
Always<\/i> get informed consent<\/h3>\n
Ask for help when you need it<\/h3>\n
Record everything<\/h3>\n
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