Medical malpractice occurs when a hospital, physician, or health care professional’s negligence results in injury to a patient. Medical errors may be made at any stage in care, including diagnosis, treatment, aftercare, or disease management. If you have been hurt by another party’s negligence, contact a medical malpractice attorney right away. Here is an overview of some of the most common hospital errors.

Hospital Hallway

Incorrect Patient

Preventable medical errors are the third leading cause of death in the United States, and millions of Americans are injured each year as the result of hospital mistakes. One devastating but common error occurs when a hospital staff administers treatment to the incorrect patient. If a nurse fails to verify a patient’s identity, two individuals with similar names may be confused, and the wrong person can receive everything from chemotherapy to a new kidney.

Wrong Operation

Another terrifying consequence of a hospital’s failure to maintain or properly interpret their records is surgery on the incorrect body part. For example, if a patient’s chart is incorrect or misinterpreted, an instruction to amputate the left leg may be misread as clearance to remove the right-side limb. Sadly, medical malpractice attorneys frequently represent patients who have endured significant physical and psychological pain after such an error.

Surgical Instruments

Complex surgeries require many instruments and many hands. But there is simply no excuse for a medical team leaving surgical instruments inside a patient’s body, and tools left inside the body can cause infection, pain, swelling, fever, and even death. After this error, many patients must undergo additional operations to correct the hospital’s mistake.

Have You Been a Victim of Medical Malpractice?

If you've been injured in a medical malpractice case, you need to speak with an experienced medical malpractice attorney as soon as possible. Please contact us online or call our Gaithersburg office directly at 301.840.0404 to schedule your free consultation.

 

Karen Sussman
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Gaithersburg Personal Injury Attorney
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