Medical malpractice is a serious problem in the United States. Every year, thousands of people are injured or killed due to negligence or errors made by doctors and other medical professionals. While there is no excuse for these mistakes, understanding common causes of provider-based medical malpractice can help you protect yourself and look for potential risks to your health.
Read on to learn more about the top causes of medical malpractice.
What Is Medical Malpractice?
Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare provider fails to provide an acceptable standard of care, resulting in injury or death. The medical professional’s negligence must directly cause injury or death to constitute malpractice.
Examples of negligence can include:
- misdiagnosis, missed diagnosis or delayed diagnosis
- incorrect treatment
- improper medication administration
- surgical errors
- birth injuries
If you believe that you or a loved one is a victim of medical malpractice, do not hesitate to call our experienced Chicago medical malpractice attorneys at 312-985-0299 and schedule a free consultation.
Top 5 Causes of Medical Malpractice
1. Miscommunication
Miscommunication between doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers is one of the leading causes of medical malpractice. Serious mistakes can occur when vital information is not relayed correctly or in a timely manner.
2. Documentation Mistakes
Incorrect or missing documentation can lead to dangerous medical errors. This is especially true in hospitals, where many different people are often involved in a patient’s care, and it can be difficult to track all the necessary information. It is essential that all medical decisions and care are documented by the responsible providers.
3. Inadequate Training
Medical professionals must receive adequate training to ensure they are providing quality care to their patients. In some cases, doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers may be inadequately trained or supervised, resulting in poor judgment or errors that could have been avoided.
4. Systemic Issues
The organization of a hospital or clinic can also lead to medical malpractice. Systemic issues such as staffing shortages, lack of resources, and inefficient policies can all contribute to medical malpractice.
In addition, using outdated or faulty equipment can cause serious mistakes during the course of care, resulting in injury or death. Hospitals and other healthcare facilities must take steps to ensure they are using the most up-to-date technology and equipment available.
5. Physician Judgment
Doctors are the front line of medical care. The decisions they make can have a profound impact on patient outcomes, and when mistakes are made, they often result in serious injury or death. In some cases, physician judgment errors may be unavoidable due to the complexity of a patient’s condition, but in other cases, errors may occur due to physician misjudgment from fatigue or a lack of understanding.
Dedicated Trial Lawyers. Consistent Results.
Medical malpractice can have devastating consequences, and it is essential to be aware of the risks. By understanding the top causes of medical malpractice, such as miscommunication, inadequate training, systemic issues, documentation mistakes, and physician judgment errors, you can better prepare for your medical malpractice case.
At Angelini, Ori & Abate Law, our medical malpractice attorneys have a track record of success advocating for our clients following catastrophic events. With over 75 years of experience fighting for our clients and over $150 million obtained on their behalf, we can help you seek the damages you deserve. You won’t pay attorneys fees unless we recover compensation.
If you or a loved one has been the victim of medical malpractice, call our firm at 312-985-0299 to schedule a free consultation with one of our experienced Chicago medical malpractice attorneys. Our team is here to help you seek justice and compensation to help you move forward.