People seek medical treatment for a variety of reasons. The impetus for seeing a doctor or other medical professional could include a routine checkup, treatment for a common illness, injury, or to undergo an elective cosmetic procedure. Whatever the reason for seeking treatment, the people who have chosen to care for others as their profession have a duty to act with the degree of skill and care expected from a medical professional. When this does not occur and injury results, victims can often recover significant compensation through a medical malpractice lawsuit.
Medical malpractice is a type of professional negligence that occurs when a professional fails to meet the statutorily defined standard of care. Under Florida law, the standard of care1 that applies to medical professionals is that level of care, skill, and treatment which, in light of all relevant surrounding circumstances, is recognized as acceptable and appropriate by reasonably prudent similar health care providers.� Medical malpractice can occur in a variety of ways, but some tend to me more common than others. Some of these are discussed below.
Failure to diagnose or misdiagnosis � A reasonable medical professional should know the correct tests to perform and the right questions to ask if a patient presents with certain symptoms. If a doctor fails to thoroughly investigate your condition, you may not receive a correct diagnosis or may even be sent home with no diagnosis at all. Without the proper diagnosis, you may not receive the treatment you need in a timely manner, which can lead to unnecessary complications and the need for more costly treatment.
Surgical errors � Because of the serious risks of complications during surgical procedures, surgeons and their support staff must take care before, during, and after the procedure. If a doctor is distracted, untrained, or otherwise impaired, patients can suffer and may even not survive. Common surgical errors include inadequate sterilization, operating on the wrong body part, leaving foreign objects inside the patient, failure to provide proper post-operative care, among others.
Medication errors � Over 4 million prescriptions2 are filled on an annual basis in the United States. Doctors, nurses, and pharmacists must use proper care to ensure that prescriptions and medication administered in medical facilities are correct. Medication errors can happen in many ways, including administering the wrong medication to the wrong patient, prescribing or administering the wrong dosage, giving medication that may have harmful reactions with existing prescriptions, failing to give necessary medication, and more.
Birth errors � Pregnancy, labor, and childbirth are all complicated and any errors can have a severe effect on both the child and the mother. Common birth errors include providing improper prenatal care, failing to identify possible complications or birth defects, failing to monitor the vital signs of the child and mother during labor, not taking emergency action should complications arise, and errors using vacuums or other tools.
Medical malpractice can entitle victims to significant compensation
People who have been injured by the negligence or carelessness of medical professionals do not have to sit idly by and suffer. Florida medical malpractice law often entitles victims of medical negligence to significant compensation for their medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost income, and loss of quality of life. Because of the complicated medical and legal issues that often arise in medical malpractice cases, it is important for victims to retain an attorney who is familiar with Florida law and who has a history of success representing the victims of medical negligence.
Contact a Clearwater medical malpractice law firm today to schedule a free case evaluation with an attorney
Since 2009, the Clearwater medical malpractice lawyers of the Dolman Law Group have been helping people injured by negligence recover for their losses. We are committed to representing the rights of the injured and work tirelessly to ensure that each client we take obtains the full and fair value of his or her claim. To schedule a free consultation with one of our attorneys, call our office today at 727-451-6900.
Dolman Law Group
800 North Belcher Road
Clearwater, FL 33756
727-451-6900
800 North Belcher Road
Clearwater, FL 33756
727-451-6900
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