Medical malpractice is a category within personal injury law that describes a specific type of claim: claims of injuries due to healthcare professionals’ negligence. The medical malpractice category is further divided into multiple types of claim.

Below are four examples of medical malpractice claim types. Although these are commonly cited and discussed claim types, they are not the only ones. If you have suffered an injury as the result of a physician or other healthcare professional’s negligence or reckless behavior, but the negligence you experienced does not fall neatly into one of these categories, speak with an experienced medical malpractice lawyer about your case to determine the best way to file your claim.

Surgical Error

Surgery is complicated. When a physician makes an error during or after surgery, his or her patient can potentially suffer a life-altering injury or even death. Examples of surgical errors that can lead to injuries and worsened conditions include:

• Leaving equipment inside the patient after surgery;

• Operating on the wrong body part;

• Damaging organs or tissue unrelated to the surgery while operating on the patient; and

• Failing to provide adequate post-operative care to the patient.

Medication Error

When a patient is prescribed medication, the dosage and type of medication prescribed must be selected carefully. Some medications contain ingredients that can cause patients to suffer allergic reactions. Dosages are often prescribed according to the patient’s weight, and a dose that is too small for a patient can be ineffective while a dose that is too large can harm the patient.

Medication errors can also be made on the part of the drug manufacturer or distributor. For example, a drug may be contaminated at the manufacturing or packaging plant. A drug can also be put on the market prematurely and found later to have severe side effects. A medication error can also occur as the result of a medical device malfunction, such as a device that administers small doses of medication at timed intervals.

Misdiagnosis or Delayed Diagnosis

A doctor’s job is to accurately diagnose and treat illnesses and conditions. If a physician fails to identify his or her patient’s condition, diagnoses it as another condition, or fails to diagnose it until it reaches a mature stage at which it requires much more substantial treatment, the physician may be deemed to be negligent and thus liable for the patient’s damages.

Pregnancy or Childbirth Error

Errors with prenatal care or during childbirth can result in injuries to the mother or her child. Sometimes, negligence can cause both to suffer injuries. A few examples of physician negligence during pregnancy include:

• Failure to identify a condition with the mother, such as preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, or anemia;

• Failure to identify a birth defect in the fetus; or

• Failure to diagnose an ectopic pregnancy or other issues with a pregnancy.

Physician negligence during birth can also cause an infant to suffer injuries. These are known as birth injuries. Examples of birth injuries include:

• Injuries due to the use of forceful or rough handling;

• Injuries from forceps or a vacuum extractor;

• Failure to anticipate and address issues that could make birth more difficult, such as a breach birth or an exceptionally large infant; and

• Failure to respond to distress signs during birth.

Work with a Chicago Medical Malpractice Attorney

If you have suffered from an injury, a worsened condition, or a preventable condition as the result of a healthcare professional’s negligence, you have the right to file a medical malpractice claim to seek monetary compensation for your damages. To learn more about filing and pursuing a medical malpractice claim, speak with a member of our team of experienced personal injury attorneys at Baizer Kolar P.C. during your free consultation with us. Call our firm today to get started with a member of our team.