“Medical malpractice” is a phrase no patient or a loved one of a patient ever wants to hear. Unfortunately, medical malpractice is a matter of life and death. While no medical procedure is ever without risk, you should never have to worry about negligence on the part of your doctor or medical support team. Sadly, medical malpractice happens more frequently than we want to think. Whether it’s an error during a surgical procedure or a misdiagnosis, medical malpractice can lead to unnecessary physical and mental pain and – in some cases – death. If you or a loved one have fallen victim to medical malpractice, you have the grounds to sue for damages. Reynolds, Horne & Survant is a medical malpractice attorney in Macon, Georgia, with years of experience defending clients in medical malpractice suits. Here’s what you need to know about medical malpractice and what to look out for.
A Medical Malpractice Attorney in Macon, Georgia Can Help With Misdiagnosis Claims
Misdiagnosis is one of the most common medical malpractice claims filed. A misdiagnosis can happen in a couple of different ways. One involves the doctor providing an incorrect diagnosis. Sometimes the misdiagnosis is no diagnosis at all. This occurs when a patient complains of symptoms, and the doctor doesn’t make a diagnosis. A no-diagnosis situation often happens with younger or elderly patients. If a younger patient complains of symptoms, sometimes doctors blow them off as being too young and healthy to have a severe condition. Additionally, older patients are sometimes written off because their aches and pains are just thought to be part of growing older. As you can imagine, neither one of these misdiagnosis situations are acceptable. Neither end well.
A misdiagnosis can cause a delay in treatment, which can make sickness unnecessarily worse or lead to death. If you have experienced a misdiagnosis, you may be entitled to damages.
Errors Made During Childbirth
Most of the time, everything goes right during childbirth. Millions of women give birth each year without any issues. Occasionally, something does go wrong, and it could be because of negligence on the part of a medical professional. For example, a mother’s signs of preeclampsia are ignored, and the mother has a seizure while in labor. Another example could be negligence during a c-section, leading to an injury or infection. If you experienced improper care during childbirth that led to physical distress for you or your baby, you could sue for medical malpractice.
Incorrect Medication
When it comes to prescribing medicine, doctors, nurses, and pharmacists need to be extremely careful and accurate. There is no room for mistakes. Giving a patient the wrong medication or an incorrect amount of medication can be deadly. With today’s technology and digital records of medication distribution in the hospital, there is much less chance of this happening, but occasionally it still does. Double- and triple-check your medication to make sure it is the right type and proper dosage. If you are a caregiver, make sure to look at all medications before giving them to your loved one. Getting prescribed or given the wrong medication or the incorrect amount is reason enough for a medical malpractice lawsuit.
Mistakes During Surgical Procedures – Contact a Medical Malpractice Attorney in Macon, Georgia
Surgery is stressful! No surgery is risk-free, but negligence by the surgeon should not be a risk. This negligence can lead to unnecessary infections, blood loss, and in extreme cases, death. Ever heard of a surgeon leaving behind a surgical tool inside a patient’s body? This sounds impossible, but it does happen and is a prime example of medical malpractice. Negligent mistakes should not occur during surgery and are definitely grounds for filing a medical malpractice claim.
Too Little or Too Much Anesthesia
Another medical malpractice involving surgery is the administration of too little or too much anesthesia. Too little anesthesia and the patient might not properly fall asleep for their procedure. Too much anesthesia and the patient may never wake up. Administering anesthesia is a careful science. Anesthesiologists must pay careful attention to many different factors pre-surgery, during surgery, and post-surgery to ensure the patient is receiving the correct dose of anesthesia.
Improper Monitoring
Another common medical malpractice lawsuit cause is due to improper patient monitoring. This type of case happens more frequently in nursing homes or post-hospital rehab-type facilities. Patients in facilities need monitoring due to health conditions. Monitoring includes tasks like timely administration of medication, proper supervision to avoid falls, and changing of bandages to prevent infection. Improper monitoring of conditions can be very harmful to patients. If you have a loved one at a medical facility and notice improper care and negligence, it’s time to contact a medical malpractice attorney.
Medical Malpractice Attorney in Macon, Georgia
If you or a loved one has experienced medical malpractice, it is time to get the compensation you deserve. While a medical malpractice lawsuit can seem scary and overwhelming, it doesn’t have to be! The key to success is working with an experienced attorney. Reynolds, Horne & Survant is a law firm that is well-versed in medical malpractice cases. We have years of experience helping our clients get the compensation they deserve in medical malpractice lawsuits. If you are looking for a medical malpractice attorney in Macon, Georgia, look no further. Contact Reynolds, Horne & Survant today to set up an initial consultation. We look forward to learning about the details of your case and how we can help.
