Whether you are visiting the doctor for a routine checkup or going in for surgery, you are relying on the help of medical professionals. When a member of the medical center is negligent and causes you or your loved one to become injured or ill, know that you have legal rights.
Victims of medical malpractice suffer not only financially, but also physically and mentally. The Cincinnati medical malpractice lawyers at O’Connor, Acciani & Levy are on your side. Our diligent and experienced accident attorneys can help you obtain the compensation you deserve for past, present and future medical expenses, lost wages, mental anguish, loss of quality of life, and more. In cases where negligence results in death, the victim’s family may be entitled to file a wrongful death claim.
Types of Medical Negligence
Discovering an injury or illness caused by a medical error can be difficult. Various studies suggest that medical errors actually cause thousands of deaths each year.
Some common examples of medical malpractice are improper diagnosis, delay in treatment, and surgical errors. Other types of medical negligence include:
- Blood transfusion complications
- Delay in diagnosis
- Delay in proper course of treatment
- Failure to cross-check medications for interactions
- Delivery room errors
- Dental errors
- Diagnostic errors
- Errors in psychiatric evaluation
- Failure to obtain informed consent
- Failure to sufficiently monitor patient
- Improperly prescribed medications
- Medical device errors
- Anesthesia errors
- Miscalculations in dosage of medications
- Misdiagnosis
- Misreported medical lab results
- Medication errors
- Surgery on the wrong body part
This list is not exhaustive, however, it does cover many scenarios in which a medical mistake may be have been made. Any of these situations could lead to serious, life-threatening complications.
If you believe that you have suffered from a medical error, and it led to an injury, illness or other complication, you may be entitled to file a doctor malpractice claim. A dedicated lawyer in Cincinnati can review the details of your medical reports, contact medical experts and determine if you have a malpractice case.
Common Causes Of Malpractice in Cincinnati
Medical negligence is when a healthcare professional fails to uphold their duty of care. This duty is their obligation to adhere to a standard of care any other healthcare practitioner in a similar field would follow in a similar situation.
Most medical errors are a result of human error, gross negligence, an accident or due to a device malfunction. Sometimes the negligence is on the part of a health care professional; other times, it is on the part of the medical facility.
Some causes for medical errors include:
- Distraction / inattention
- Fatigue
- Faulty medical products
- Improperly maintained equipment
- Inexperience
- Insufficiently sterilized environment
- Lack of communication
- Lack of compliance with industry standards
- Poor handwriting
- Poorly executed preoperative processes
In some cases, human error can result in inaccurate paperwork, which can lead to an accident such as amputation of the wrong limb. In others, bad handwriting has led to prescribing the wrong medication. Medical malpractice can occur at almost any level of care and lead to a range of irreversible injuries.
If you believe you or someone you love has been a victim of medical negligence, contact a tenacious Cincinnati lawyer. Our legal representatives are ready to explore your legal options and help you and your family get the justice you deserve.
Consequences of a Medical Professional's Negligence
The causes of medical mistakes are usually due to negligence. However, the consequences of such negligent acts can result in particularly damaging injuries. Unfortunately, the risky nature of a health care professional’s job usually means that small mistakes have big effects.
Some common injuries that result from medical negligence include:
- Birth injuries
- Brain damage
- Embedded foreign objects
- Infection
- Internal injuries
- Nerve damage
- Paralysis
- Permanent disabilities
- Chronic pain
While diseases such as cancer and mesothelioma may not be caused by medical malpractice, a failure to diagnose in a timely manner can lead to advanced stages of the illness. In some cases, an earlier diagnosis would mean a better quality of life for the patient.
Medical malpractice can also result in wrongful death: if you know someone who died under medical care due to circumstances that cannot easily be explained, you are encouraged to consult a seasoned local attorney.
Schedule a Consultation with a Medical Malpractice Attorney in Cincinnati
Cases of preventable medical error are especially tragic, considering the often severe consequences. Even though injuries may have been unintentional, a medical facility and its staff are bound by professional liability to provide a standard level of care. If your health was compromised by a failure to provide the proper level of care, you may have grounds for a lawsuit.
The team of highly trained Cincinnati personal injury lawyers at O'Connor, Acciani & Levy have a proven track record. From expert witnesses to a thorough knowledge of related cases, our attorneys have the resources needed to defend your rights.
