A recent medical malpractice study showed that nearly 50% of older physicians have faced a medical malpractice lawsuit, and fewer that 8% of those younger than 40 have. Further, men are more likely to be sued than women, however this is explained in part by differences in specialty and age.
The most common source of medical malpractice involves misdiagnosis or a delayed diagnosis. In order to have the best possible chance of a cure or a positive outcome to a health concern, making the right diagnosis as soon as possible is crucial. Additionally, making the wrong diagnosis may lead to receiving the wrong treatment, whether being administered ineffective or harmful medication, or undergoing an unnecessary operation. In these instances, a medical malpractice case may be successful where attorneys show that physicians breached the standard of care in not making the correct diagnosis in a timely manner. This is often the result of ignoring common symptoms of a particular disease or failing to take appropriate diagnostic tests.
Another top area of medical malpractice concerns birth injuries. While not all birth injuries can be prevented, negligence in prenatal care, or in the evaluation of particular risk factors may lead to preventable birth injuries. Further when labor and delivery complications arise and medical professionals fail to take prompt action, infants may suffer catastrophic injuries leading to lifelong conditions such as cerebral palsy and brain damage.
Anesthesia errors – whether giving the wrong type of medication or too much – can have devastating effects. Although anesthesia errors are uncommon, when they occur they are often catastrophic, with results including brain damage and death.
Other top areas of concern include surgical errors, infections, medication (prescription) errors and the failure to obtain informed consent.
If you believe you or a loved one has been harmed as a result of preventable medical malpractice, please contact the experienced and dedicated Los Angeles medical malpractice lawyers at Bostick & Peterson, LLP for an immediate consultation.
