There is a standard of care that healthcare professionals are required to follow when checking patients. When they fail to do so, medical malpractice occurs. Medical malpractice is considered a crime and can be penalized under specific laws. Any healthcare expert can commit medical malpractice, even doctors, surgeons, nurses, etc. There are several kinds of medical malpractice.
You can hold these professionals accountable if you are in a similar situation and get compensated for your suffering and loss. To learn more about medical malpractice, you can speak directly to an Atlanta Medical malpractice lawyer and understand the laws related to the subject. Here are a few types of medical malpractice examples.
Types of medical malpractice
Misdiagnosis
Misdiagnosis occurs very frequently in the United States. Misdiagnosis can prove to be dangerous to the patient’s health and life in a lot of cases, so misdiagnosis is considered to be a medical malpractice. If a different doctor with the same training and knowledge provided you with an accurate diagnosis, then you can sue the doctor who misdiagnosed you for medical malpractice and receive compensation.
Delayed Diagnosis
Conditions like cancer are life-threatening and, hence, need to be diagnosed as early as possible to keep them under control. Early diagnosis is a crucial factor in fatal health conditions, as the earlier you get a diagnosis, the earlier you can start getting treatment for it. Early diagnosis increases the chances of you recovering as well. All of this can be lost if your doctor fails to provide you with a diagnosis on time and sometimes even proves to be fatal.
There have been multiple death cases due to delayed diagnosis. Other conditions that should be diagnosed as early as possible include heart attacks, strokes, etc.
Failure to Obtain Informed Consent
There are specific procedures with risks, and in those cases, your healthcare provider is supposed to explain the entire process and risks of the procedure to help you decide if you want to follow through with the procedure or want an alternative treatment. They should also ask you to sign a consent form before proceeding with the procedure.
If you are put through a risky treatment procedure without your consent beforehand or knowledge of the process and risks involved with the treatment. You can sue the entity and the healthcare provider for it.
Incorrect Treatment
While doctors cannot always recommend the perfect treatment for your condition, they should be mindful of the treatment they do recommend. Suppose you find yourself being prescribed medicine that a doctor with competent training and knowledge will not prescribe for the particular condition. In that case, it can be considered a case of medical malpractice.
