Any time a patient goes to see a doctor or has a medical procedure done, they assume that they are in the best hands possible. While patients understand that there are always risks when it comes to medical procedures, they instill confidence in their provider that they are receiving the best care possible and that the procedure will help them instead of further hurting them. Unfortunately, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), medical negligence is actually the third leading cause of death in the U.S. Forbes.com further states that about 200,000 patients die each year in the U.S. due to medical errors. If you or a loved one has experienced medical malpractice, you have a chance to recover damages and receive payouts. Reynolds, Horne & Survant, a medical malpractice lawyer in Macon, GA, has years of experience defending clients in medical malpractice lawsuits.
Read on to learn about different examples of malpractice and how a lawyer can help.
Failure to Diagnose a Condition
A common medical malpractice issue is medical practitioners failing to diagnose a patient’s condition. This occurs when test results are misread, or obvious symptoms are ignored. For example, a radiologist failing to notice a tumor on a CT scan would be medical malpractice. Another example would be a radiologist missing a fracture on an X-ray that ends up turning into a full break. As a patient, you should be able to trust that those who are interpreting your tests are doing so correctly so that you can receive the proper diagnosis and treatment.
Improper Administration of the Wrong Drugs
It is very important that you receive the correct drugs to be treated for your condition. Receiving the incorrect drug or the incorrect dosage can have serious consequences. Things like allergic reactions could occur if the wrong drug is administered. If the wrong dose is given, the medication could make the patient sicker or not be sufficient to properly treat their condition.
Failure to Monitor a Condition
Another area of medical malpractice is the failure of a medical provider to monitor a condition. For example, cancer patients in remission typically get bloodwork taken every 3-6 months to ensure that their cancer has not returned. If a provider fails to monitor a patient’s condition and they get sick again, this could be grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit.
Failure to Order Tests That Would Have Diagnosed a Condition
Medical providers have the responsibility to order the proper tests to help diagnose a patient’s condition. While doctors don’t like to order an excessive number of tests, it is always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to testing. Knowing symptoms but failing to order tests, forcing the patient to get a diagnosis later down the road, could be medical malpractice.
Refusing Treatment Due to No Insurance
It is medical malpractice for a doctor to refuse to help a patient who does not have health insurance. Whether you are an ER doctor or a primary care physician, you must help patients who come to you, even when you know they don’t have insurance. If you have been refused medical services due to lack of insurance, you can file for a medical malpractice lawsuit.
Operating on the Wrong Body Part
While it’s extremely rare, there are cases where a surgeon actually operates on the wrong body part. This is clearly a very serious situation and definitely grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit.
Improper Delivery During Childbirth
Did something go wrong while you gave birth, hurting either you or your child? Was it a doctor or nurse’s fault? Things can go wrong during childbirth that are completely out of the hands of medical providers. But in some cases, there is negligence on the part of the provider, leading to an improper delivery. If you or your child experienced trauma during childbirth caused by a provider, it is time to file for a medical malpractice lawsuit.
How a Lawyer Can Help
Medical malpractice can have very serious, sometimes deadly, effects on patients. From missing clear diagnoses to failing to monitor conditions, these acts of negligence can make patients a lot sicker than they need to be. If you have experienced medical malpractice, you deserve to recover damages. At Reynolds, Horne & Survant, we have helped defend many clients in medical malpractice lawsuits. Whether you were injured, disfigured, or became sicker due to negligence, you are entitled to receive damages and we are here to help. Often an expert will come into the courtroom to state what the appropriate medical standards should be in your situation. The expert will then show how the medical provider did not live up to these standards.
No one should have to suffer pain or trauma due to medical malpractice. If you or a loved one has experienced this at the hands of a medical provider, it is time to take action. We know that receiving payouts won’t make up for the trauma you experienced, but convicting the medical provider can also provide clarity and peace of mind that no one else will have to suffer under their care as you did.
Reynolds, Horne & Survant: Medical Malpractice Lawyer in Macon, GA
Medical malpractice lawsuits are extremely common. In fact, according to Forbes.com, in 2012, over $3 billion was spent in medical malpractice payouts. This averages to one payout every 43 minutes. Reynolds, Horne & Survant, your local medical malpractice lawyer in Macon, GA, can help create a strong case for you in court so that you hopefully receive damages from your medical malpractice experience. We have ample experience in this area of the law. Also, we are confident that we can help you with your case. If you know you have witnessed medical malpractice, or even if you suspect that you have, contact us today. We look forward to meeting you and helping you get the payouts you deserve.
