What Are The Main Causes Of Medical Malpractice?

The last thing you want to think about when you or a loved one undergo a medical procedure is that something will go wrong. While most medical procedures are successful, there are times when people are harmed by the careless or negligent actions of a medical professional. Today, the Charlotte medical malpractice attorneys at Brown, Moore & Associates, PLLC want to discuss the main causes of these cases.

Medical mistakes occur at alarming rates

When researchers at Johns Hopkins said that medical mistakes are the third leading cause of death in the United States, they shocked the population. Some estimates claim that as many as 250,000 people die each year due to preventable medical mistakes.

There are many causes of medical malpractice. While this is not a complete list, many of the mistakes made revolve around the following:

• Emergency room malpractice
• Failure to diagnose a medical condition
• Surgical mistakes
• Inadequate patient monitoring
• Failure to take proper precautions
• Failing to act on test results
• Medication mistakes
• Anesthesia errors
• Healthcare-acquired infections

Who can be held liable for medical mistakes?

The healthcare system employs many people, and most of them have a duty to care for patients. When assessing whether a medical professional is liable for a mistake, a jury will need to determine whether the professional acted in a way that a similarly trained professional would act in a similar situation.

Many people only think of doctors when they hear about a medical mistake being made. While it is true that many medical malpractice lawsuits revolve around a doctor’s mistake, there are many other parties that can be held accountable for negligence:

• Surgeons
• Optometrists
• Pharmacists
• Dentists
• Nurses
• Nurse’s aides
• Psychiatrists
• Anesthesiologists

Aside from individuals, agencies and companies can be held accountable as well. For example, a hospital could be held liable for the mistakes made by a surgeon if they knew that the surgeon had a history of poor performance. There are also times when policies in place at healthcare agencies create a dangerous situation for all patients, such as not enforcing infection control protocols. The following could all be parties in medical malpractice lawsuits:

• Hospitals
• Nursing homes
• Government institutions
• Pharmaceutical companies and more

You need to secure skilled legal assistance

If you or someone you love has been injured due to the negligent or careless actions of a medical professional, you need to seek legal assistance as soon as possible. At Brown, Moore & Associates, PLLC, we are going to investigate what happened and work to secure the compensation you are entitled to. This can include:

• Coverage of your medical expenses related to the error(s)
• Your lost income and benefits if you cannot work
• Loss of enjoyment of life damages
• Pain and suffering damages
• Punitive damages against the healthcare provider responsible for the mistake

When you need a Charlotte medical malpractice attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling us at 800-948-0577.