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Common reasons to make a medical malpractice claim

On Behalf of | Nov 18, 2019 | Firm News

When you seek advice or get treated by a medical professional, you will probably trust them completely to make the best decision for you. In most cases, doctors, surgeons and nurses are well-trained and competent, and they will do their best to ensure that you are safe and that you are given the best possible treatment. However, there can be times when poor hospital management, incompetence or negligence can mean that medical malpractice takes place.

Medical malpractice is a very serious issue because it can cause unnecessary pain, suffering and even death. This is why those who have been negatively affected by medical malpractice have the right to take legal action and claim compensatory damages. The following are some of the most common reasons why people make medical malpractice claims.

Delayed or incorrect diagnosis

When you seek advice from a doctor because you are experiencing worrying symptoms, they must ask the right questions and conduct the necessary tests. It’s usually appropriate for them to undergo a process of elimination, whereby they conduct tests to rule out some of the most severe possibilities first. If they do not take the appropriate course of action, a patient’s condition may progress while they are waiting for the correct diagnosis.

Negligent prescription

Many things need to be considered before prescribing a new medication to a patient. If the directions are incorrect, the patient may suffer an accidental overdose. If the doctor prescribes the patient medication that they should have known they are allergic to, the patient could suffer serious injury. These types of medication errors could constitute medical malpractice.

Failure to obtain informed consent

Before a patient undergoes any type of procedure, they must be informed of the potential outcomes of the treatment, and give their consent to the procedure with this knowledge. This is known as informed consent. If a patient is unaware of some of the possible outcomes of the procedure, they cannot give informed consent. They can file a medical malpractice claim if they suffer unexpected damages as a result.

If you have had a bad experience when seeking medical attention in Louisiana, you may be able to take legal action in the form of a medical malpractice claim. In doing so, you could gain damages to cover financial costs as well as the pain and suffering caused.