Receiving Compensation for Medical Errors in Erie
Unfortunately, some people who go to the hospital, doctor, or other medical provider for help sustain further injury because of medical errors. We trust our doctors and health care professionals to “do no harm,” but that is not always the case. Through negligence or other wrongdoing, medical errors and mistakes injure patients and result in life-threatening conditions.
If a doctor or other health care provider causes injury because of medical errors or negligence, a patient may receive compensation for injuries, damages, and losses related to the physician’s actions. Working with an Erie medical malpractice attorney can help identify whether your injuries were caused by avoidable medical errors or conditions that were not within the control of the medical providers.
What Are Medical Errors?
Medical errors can occur in any health care facility or situation. The errors may be the result of an oversight or an honest mistake, or they could be the result of negligence or intentional acts. In either case, a medical error that causes injury can result in a medical malpractice claim.
The error must have resulted in harm to the patient to recover compensation for a medical error. Therefore, it is important to work with your other health care providers and an experienced medical malpractice lawyer in Erie to identify the medical error and link the error to the injury or condition you sustained.
Common actions or omissions that may fall into the category of medical error include:
- Surgical Errors — Surgical errors are a common reason for medical malpractice claims. Errors made during surgery may include leaving objects in a surgical site, operating on the wrong body part, anesthesia errors, and using inappropriate surgical techniques.
- Diagnostic Errors — Failing to adequately diagnose a patient’s condition can result in more severe conditions and complications. In some cases, a failure to diagnose a condition may result in a patient’s death. An incorrect diagnosis may also result in severe injuries and death. Diagnostic errors result when a physician fails to perform the necessary diagnostic tests based on the person’s symptoms, such as CT scans, MRIs, X-rays, and blood tests. They may also result from a failure to follow standard procedures and policies for diagnosing a patient’s condition.
- Medication Errors — Medication errors can result in life-threatening conditions. These types of medical errors occur when a doctor fails to prescribe the correct medication or the correct dosage. Medication errors may also occur if a nurse or other health care professional fails to give a patient the correct medication or dose of medication. Prescription errors may occur at the pharmacy if a pharmacist fills the prescription in error.
- Informed Consent — Failing to obtain informed consent may be an error in judgment or an intentional oversight. Patients have the right to be informed about the risks and benefits of all medical procedures, why the doctor advises a specific treatment plan, and if there are alternative treatment plans.
Contact an Erie Medical Malpractice Attorney for More Information
If you believe that medical errors caused your condition or injuries, contact The Travis Law Firm at (800) 401-2066 to schedule your free legal consultation with our Erie medical malpractice lawyer.