|
What are some common errors that may occur in Emergency Rooms?
What are some conditions that may be misdiagnosed or incorrectly treated in the
Emergency Room?
What should
you be aware of when visiting an Emergency Room?
What
is medical malpractice?
Who
can be sued under medical malpractice laws?
What
does “established customary standard of care” mean?
My
doctor made a mistake. He even admitted it to me and my treatment didn’t
work. Do I have a malpractice case?
How
do I gather evidence for this type of medical malpractice case?
When
should I see a lawyer?
What
is a birth injury?
What
are the most common instances of medical negligence in a birth injury case?
What are the most frequent birth
injuries?
What are some common errors that may occur in Emergency Rooms?
Mistakes commonly made in an
Emergency Room may include:
- Medication Errors
- Prescription Errors
- Bacterial Infections
- Birth Injury
- Omissions Error
- Failure to Diagnose or Improper Diagnosis
- Negligence
- Unnecessary Surgical Procedures
Back to Top
What are some conditions that may be misdiagnosed or incorrectly treated in the
Emergency Room?
Heart attacks, Strokes and Aneurysms are among the most common misdiagnosed
conditions in emergency rooms. Some problems,
such as heart attacks, can be mistaken
for indigestion, and long term problems can be missed as doctors look for
immediate causes. If these problems were caught upon arrival to the ER, some
patients would have a much better prognosis. Misdiagnosing a patient can even
lead to death. Being a victim of an emergency room error can mean that you
have a legal right to compensation or other damages.
Back to Top
What should
you be aware of when visiting an Emergency Room?
Don’t
be afraid to ask questions. The Emergency department can be a confusing place.
When you receive any medication, diagnosis, or treatment, ask what is being
done and why. Before you leave,
get all of your discharge
instructions in writing. Be sure that these include the names of the
physicians that you saw, the diagnosis that was made, follow-up instructions,
and any prescriptions you may require. Because of the high volume of patients
and continual staff shortages, Emergency
Rooms can lead to an environment that is ripe for errors. Some of the errors
may cause minor inconveniences, but others can lead to deadly consequences for
unsuspecting patients.
Back to Top
What
is medical malpractice?
Medical malpractice occurs when a doctor, nurse, or other licensed
medical professional fails to provide a patient with medical treatment equal
to the established customary standard of care and this failure results
in an injury to a patient.
Back to Top
Who
can be sued under medical malpractice laws?
Any health care professional who is in a
position of trust, is licensed and provides professional medical service to
you.
Back to Top
What
does “established customary standard of care” mean?
This is the degree of care and skill
that the average qualified doctor would provide to a patient who sought
medical care for similar symptoms and circumstances.
Back to Top
My
doctor made a mistake. He even admitted it to me and my treatment didn’t
work. Do I have a malpractice case?
A medical malpractice / medical
negligence attorney can help you to determine if your case has merit.
Many mistakes are simply that, but if your doctor's mistake was the result of
negligence or failure to meet the expected standard of care, then the answer
may be "Yes". Damages may be recoverable for you under medical
malpractice laws. Contact us today to determine whether you are entitled to
compensation.
Back to Top
How
do I gather evidence for this type of medical malpractice case?
In most cases, you will not be able to
gather the evidence necessary to document negligence in a birth injury case.
Your attorney will actually have access to more medical records than you will,
as ironic as they may seem. Munley, Munley & Cartwright lawyers are
experienced in this type of litigation and will know what you need for your
case. Contact us today.
Back to Top
When
should I see a lawyer?
As soon as you suspect that negligence
may be the cause of the birth injury in your baby. It is necessary
to gather facts and evidence early. There is also a ”statute of
limitations” for filing medical malpractice claims so don’t delay.
Munley, Munley & Cartwright's medical malpractice lawyers are prepared to
assess your case today. Contact us
today.
Back to Top
What
is a birth injury?
A physical injury suffered by a baby
during delivery. Birth injuries may be related to pre-existing maternal or
fetal health problems, or related to negligence by a health care
professional such as a doctor or another member of the professional medical
staff. These injuries may cause permanent disabilities or even death.
Back to Top
What
are the most common instances of medical negligence in a birth injury case?
The most common examples of medical negligence are related to improper
responses by the doctor anyone on the medical team. These responses are
usually related to unforeseen circumstances, such as a larger baby than
expected, an unexpected shift in baby's position, and other unexpected
complications, which may include:
- Bleeding, distress, or lack of oxygen
experienced by mother or infant
- Umbilical cord entrapment or compression
- Delay in decision to do cesarean section
- Use / misuse of vacuum extractor and forceps
- Delay in recognizing or treating Infections
Back to Top
What are the most frequent birth
injuries?
The birth injuries most often
reported are:
- Injuries to the brachial
plexus (a nerve network that conducts signals from the spine to the
shoulder, arm, and hand). Generally these injuries fall under one of four
types: Avulsion (the nerve is torn from the spine); Rupture (the nerve is
torn, but not at the spinal attachment); Neuroma (the nerve healing is
impaired due to scar tissue); and Neuropraxia (the nerve has been
damaged, but not torn).
- Fracture of the clavicle or
collarbone.
- Cephalohematoma - bleeding
underneath an area of scalp.
- Caput succedaneum - a
diffuse swelling and bruising of the scalp in a newborn (may also
"mold" the head), generally caused by vacuum extraction
delivery.
- Cerebral palsy - disorder
affecting muscle control and movement.
- Subconjunctival hemorrhage.
- Bruising and/or forceps
marks.
Back to Top
|
