Most people have a handful of trusted professionals for their various service needs. Perhaps you have a trusted mechanic that you have been using for years. Or a general contractor that you can always count on to get the job done correctly. The process of finding someone you can count on when it means the most is an important one. None more than finding a doctor or general practitioner that you can trust with the health of you and your family. We want and need to have the ability to trust our doctors, yet mistakes can and will happen.
When the stakes are highest, we need to make sure all steps are being done correctly. Below are some of the most common medical malpractice claims. We hope that you are more prepared to understand when a second opinion is necessary by reading this article.
The most common medical malpractice injury claims:
- Prescription errors
- Utah is a state that has a long history of frequent prescription drug use. In general, we are one of the highest prescribed populations for mental and physical ailments. We can often think of taking pills as a harmless activity. The truth of the matter is that drugs can be quite dangerous if something is wrong. Many people suffer from damage due to incorrect dosage or being prescribed drugs without considering previous conditions or medications currently being taken for other medical-related reasons.
- Misdiagnosis or failure to diagnose
- In the United States, nearly 12 million people are not properly diagnosed each year. The side effects of these mistakes can range from unnecessary medical expenses to health complications or even death. Many illnesses have a window in which proper treatment must be administered for recovery to happen. The symptoms of many illnesses are similar to others, and one ailment may be mistaken for another.
- Surgical errors
- Many complications can arise when someone goes under the knife. Errors that are most likely to happen include incorrect incision sites or performing a surgery that was not necessary in the first place. Other, more horrific mistakes can include leaving medical equipment in the body after surgery or removing the wrong limb.
What can be done to prevent malpractice?
It is safe to assume that most doctors and medical professionals have our best interests at heart. However, they are human, and despite their education or years of experience, they can make mistakes. If you or a loved one is dealing with a more extensive medical condition, it helps get a second opinion. Even if all precautions have taken place, accidents can, unfortunately, still happen. When people find themselves dealing with issues due to malpractice, recuperation steps must be taken. We suggest calling a local medical malpractice law firm and request a case review. Knowledgeable attorneys can help you cover from previous medical bills and expected future medical costs.
