What Kinds of Cases Does a Medical Malpractice Attorney Cover?

Medical professionals are supposed to provide the best care possible to those who seek out their expertise, but that isn’t always the case.
In some instances, mistakes made by medical professionals can lead to lifelong injuries, worsening symptoms, or even death. Depending on your situation, these mistakes can be considered medical malpractice and may be handled by a medical malpractice attorney in Oregon. The medical malpractice attorneys at Warren Allen LLP work specifically on cases where medical professionals cause individuals harm or a negative medical experience.
Here are a few of the cases that are commonly covered by medical malpractice attorneys:

Misdiagnosis

Misdiagnosis is when a medical professional examines a patient and either fails to diagnose the correct illness or says that the patient doesn’t have an illness when they actually do.
When this happens, a patient may be diagnosed with a condition that they don’t have and, as a result, take medication and treatment that is unnecessary. A “missed diagnosis” can cause a disease or ailment to worsen, preventing a patient from having the opportunity to treat it in a timely manner.
Misdiagnosis is one of the most common reasons people hire a medical malpractice attorney, and make up a majority of medical malpractice lawsuits.

Delayed Diagnosis

A patient may also suffer from not being diagnosed with a health condition, ailment, or disease in a timely manner, also known as receiving a delayed diagnosis. In order to be classified as malpractice, the patient must seek out professional medical help and fail to be diagnosed properly.
When this happens the patient doesn’t receive the treatment they need in the correct time frame and typically will have further health complications as a result. In worst-case scenarios, a delayed diagnosis can result in harm or even death.
Some instances that occur and are considered to lead to delayed diagnoses are as followed:

• Dismissing symptoms reported by the patient that would lead to a correct diagnosis
• Lost or mishandled lab work or results
• Failure to refer the patient to a specialist when signs indicate they should be
• Not doing further tests when there are abnormalities in routine bloodwork<

If you have experienced an issue that resembles one of these scenarios and have suffered medically because of it, you may wish to speak with a medical malpractice attorney to see what legal options are available to you.

Surgical Errors

A surgical error is a preventable mistake that occurs during a surgical procedure. While all surgeries come with their own risks, there are some mistakes that can be prevented with proper care and procedure.
Some examples of surgical errors are incompetence, poor communication, insufficient planning, neglect, fatigue, or drug and alcohol use. The most frequent surgical errors include operations on the wrong body part, nerve damage, the administration of too much or too little medication, and wrong incision location.
If a surgical error was caused due to one of the above reasons, it could be handled by a medical malpractice attorney. It’s best to consult with an attorney in your state to see if your unique situation qualifies for these kinds of lawsuits.

Birth Injury

Birth injuries are sustained during the labor and delivery process and include injuries such as nerve damage, broken bones, or even death. This occurs when health professionals involved in the birthing process, such as midwives, nurses, or doctors, fail to uphold quality medical care and an injury is sustained to either the mother or the infant.
Common mistakes made during the birthing process can include not performing a C-section when medically necessary, not properly monitoring for signs of fetal distress, improper use of forceps, and exercising too much force. When a birth injury is sustained to an infant or mother during labor or delivery, it may be handled by a medical malpractice attorney in Oregon.
Birth injuries that are commonly cited in malpractice suits include cerebral palsy, brain damage, and paralysis. Injuries like this can significantly impact the child’s quality of life and cause lifelong medical issues. For these reasons, they and other birth injuries are often handled by medical malpractice attorneys.

Failure to Treat

Another frequent cause of malpractice claims is failure to treat. The phrase “failure to treat” may seem cut and dry, but more situations fall into this category than you’d expect. Some examples of failure to treat include failing to provide follow-up care, not ordering necessary medical tests, and releasing a patient too soon from the hospital. Doctors handling a larger caseload or patient roster than they are capable of dealing with is another form of failure to treat. These scenarios and more may be covered by a medical malpractice attorney.

Medication Error

Taking too much, too little, or the incorrect medication can come with some serious consequences. If you are prescribed the wrong medication, the wrong dose of a medication, or prescribed medication that is unnecessary, it may be considered medical malpractice.
When a doctor chooses to prescribe a medication for you, it is their duty to check for other prescriptions you’re already taking, to ensure they’re choosing the correct medication, to check for proper dosing, and to prevent any drug interactions. Failing to inquire about your current medications could result in severe symptoms or side effects and, in worst-case scenarios, could result in death. This could be caused by a mistake on your doctor’s part, but it can also be the fault of a pharmacist. Medication error is a serious mistake to make, which is why it’s often covered by medical malpractice attorneys.
If you or someone you know has experienced a medical issue that resembles one of the above cases, it may benefit you to reach out to a law firm like Warren Allen LLP. The medical malpractice attorneys at Warren Allen LLP can look into your case and determine whether you have any legal standing to file a lawsuit against the medical establishment that has wronged you. The damages from these types of lawsuits often include recovery for pain and suffering, medical bill coverage, or recovery for reduced quality of life.