Medical malpractice is a serious issue, and one that can result in significant harm to patients. Every year, medical malpractice lawsuits are filed against doctors, hospitals, and other healthcare providers.
UN étude réalisée en 2016 showed that there are over 250,000 deaths due to medical malpractice every year. If you or a loved one is the victim of erreur medicale, what legal options are available to you? This article will discuss seven common kinds of poursuites pour faute médicale et quelles mesures vous pouvez prendre si cela vous arrive.
Erreur de diagnostic
Misdiagnosis is the number one type of erreur medicale lawsuit. This is when a doctor fails to correctly diagnose a patient’s condition or fails to recognize the signs and symptoms of a condition. This can lead to the wrong treatment or delayed treatment, which can have serious consequences for the patient. Misdiagnosis can lead to serious harm, or even death.
For example, imagine that a patient goes to the hospital because of chest pains and a doctor decides it’s indigestion after taking an EKG and running some tests. Then that person passes away two days later from a heart attack. In this case, the doctor misdiagnosed the patient’s condition and they died as a direct result.
Erreurs chirurgicales
Les erreurs chirurgicales sont un autre des types les plus courants de poursuites pour faute médicale. Des erreurs chirurgicales se produisent pendant les procédures, comme opérer sur la mauvaise partie du corps ou laisser des objets dans le corps d'un patient après la chirurgie.Par exemple, imaginez qu'un patient subisse une intervention chirurgicale pour retirer une tumeur de son estomac, mais que le chirurgien enlève accidentellement une partie de son intestin à la place. Ce serait une erreur chirurgicale et pourrait justifier un procès.
Défaut de traiter
Les patients peuvent intenter une action en justice pour faute professionnelle médicale s'ils estiment que leur médecin ne les a pas traités correctement. Cela peut ressembler à :
- Faire sortir un patient de l'hôpital trop tôt
- Ne pas obtenir les tests médicaux nécessaires
- Omission de donner des instructions de soins de suivi
- Lors de l'administration de médicaments ou d'une thérapie, ne pas tenir compte des antécédents médicaux d'un patient
Par exemple, imaginez qu'un patient se rende à l'hôpital avec une cheville cassée et que le médecin la fixe et lui pose un plâtre. Le médecin renvoie le patient chez lui sans lui donner d'instructions sur la façon de prendre soin de sa cheville à la maison, et le patient aggrave accidentellement sa blessure. Il s'agit d'un échec de la part du médecin à les traiter correctement.
Blessures à la naissance
Les blessures à la naissance surviennent lorsqu'un bébé n'est pas bien traité pendant le processus d'accouchement. Ces types de blessures peuvent inclure :
- L'utilisation inappropriée de forceps ou l'application excessive de force pour retirer un nouveau-né du canal de naissance
- Le cordon ombilical enroulé autour de la bouche, du nez ou du cou du nourrisson
- Défaut de détecter la détresse fœtale
- Défaut d'accoucher d'un bébé par césarienne alors que c'est nécessaire
- Pendant ou après l'accouchement, laisser tomber, secouer ou malmener un bébé
Par exemple, imaginez qu'un bébé naisse avec une grave blessure à la naissance parce que le médecin n'a pas ordonné une césarienne d'urgence alors qu'il aurait dû le faire. Cela compte comme une blessure à la naissance et pourrait mériter une poursuite pour faute professionnelle médicale.
Erreurs de médicaments sur ordonnance
Prescription drug errors are when a doctor prescribes the wrong drug or dosages to their patient. Medication errors can happen when healthcare professionals prescribe the wrong drug, don’t check for interactions with other drugs a patient is taking, or give a patient the wrong dosage.
For example, imagine that a patient is prescribed an antibiotic for a sinus infection, but they are allergic to the antibiotic. The doctor didn’t check for any allergies and gave the patient the wrong drug. This would be a prescription drug error.
Diagnostic retardé
Delayed diagnosis occurs when a healthcare provider fails to promptly and accurately diagnose a patient’s condition, leading to delayed or improper treatment. This type of medical malpractice case can have severe consequences, as it may allow a medical condition to worsen unnecessarily. Common examples include:
Missed Cancer Diagnosis
Failing to detect signs of cancer during routine screenings or misinterpreting test results, leading to a delayed cancer diagnosis and reduced treatment options.
Delayed Treatment of Infections
Not identifying or treating infections promptly, which can result in the spread of the infection, organ damage, or systemic illness.
Undiagnosed Chronic Conditions
Neglecting to diagnose chronic illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, or autoimmune disorders, resulting in delayed medical treatment and increased health risks.
These medical errors can significantly impact a patient’s prognosis and quality of life. Patients who experience delayed diagnosis may be eligible to file a medical malpractice lawsuit to seek compensation for damages incurred due to the delayed diagnosis and subsequent harm.
If you or a loved one has experienced a delayed diagnosis leading to medical complications, it’s crucial to consult with experienced medical malpractice lawyers to understand your legal options and pursue justice.
Anesthesia
Anesthesia-related errors are another significant category of négligence médicale. Anesthesia is a crucial part of many medical procedures, and errors in administering anesthesia can have serious consequences for patients. Common anesthesia-related malpractice issues include:
Dosage Errors
Administering too much or too little anesthesia can lead to complications such as anesthesia awareness (being awake during surgery), inadequate pain control, or overdosing.
Failure to Monitor
Inadequate monitoring of vital signs during anesthesia can result in undetected complications such as respiratory distress, hypoxia, or cardiac issues.
Delayed Emergence
When medical professionals fail to manage the emergence from anesthesia properly a patient can be under prolonged sedation, suffer from confusion, or other post-operative complications.
Anesthesia errors can have devastating effects on patients, including brain damage, organ failure, or even death. Patients who experience anesthesia-related malpractice may pursue medical malpractice cases to seek compensation for damages and hold the medical professional accountable.
File A Medical Malpractice Claim
If you or a loved one has been the victim of medical malpractice, it is important to seek legal help right away. Napoli Chkolnik medical malpractice lawyers are experienced in representing medical malpractice victims in these common kinds of medical malpractice lawsuits and more. Nous contacter today to learn more or to schedule your consultation de cas gratuite!
