Top 5 Most Common Types of Medical Malpractice

Professionals in the medical industry often undergo years of schooling to help treat patients and combat disease. Strict regulations in medicine aim to mitigate the risks of seeking healthcare and reduce the loss of life. Unfortunately, doctors, nurses, and others make mistakes. Sometimes, these mistakes have severe effects on patients and often lead to untimely deaths.

Medical mistakes are a top cause of death in the United States. According to a study by Johns Hopkins, medical errors contribute over 250,000 fatalities a year, making it the third-leading cause of death after heart disease and cancer. Mistakes can occur nearly an infinite number of ways in a medical setting. Here are the top 5 reasons for medical malpractice claims.

Claim A Free Consultation

  • Contact The Barnes Firm

    Fields marked with an * are required

doctor holding a stethoscope out

Diagnostic Errors

Missed or delayed diagnoses can complicate already delicate matters. When a doctor fails to diagnose a condition properly, the patient can miss out on life-saving treatment. If the doctor diagnoses the wrong condition, the patient may receive treatment for a condition he or she does not have, which can also cause his or her health to deteriorate. When a medical professional’s negligence leads to a diagnostic error, the patient or his family may have a basis for a medical malpractice claim.

Prescription Errors

Many things can go wrong with prescription drugs. A physician might make a mistake on the initial prescription, or a patient may receive the wrong medication in a hospital. Typically, improper dosage of a drug is the culprit behind a prescription error. Taking a dose of medication that is too high or low can exacerbate side effects or fail to treat the condition for which the patient needs the medication.

blue pills scattered on a table spilling out of a prescription bottle
blue pills scattered on a table spilling out of a prescription bottle

Prescription Errors

Many things can go wrong with prescription drugs. A physician might make a mistake on the initial prescription, or a patient may receive the wrong medication in a hospital. Typically, improper dosage of a drug is the culprit behind a prescription error. Taking a dose of medication that is too high or low can exacerbate side effects or fail to treat the condition for which the patient needs the medication.

view of a baby's hand and face in the hospital

Birth Injuries

Birth injuries can occur at any stage of the birthing process, from pregnancy to delivery. A number of injuries can occur to the mother and/or fetus or newborn, from which they may or may not recover.

Examples of birth injuries include:

  • Brain-related birth injuries (Cerebral palsy)
  • Muscle-related injuries (Brachial plexus)
  • Birth injuries related to infections
  • Injuries caused by infections
  • Fracture of the clavicle

Anesthesia Errors

Anesthesia is crucial to providing comfort during intrusive medical procedures; however, merely receiving anesthesia carries risk. Anesthesia mistakes take place daily and can sometimes result in death. Complications can arise when doctors:

  • Administer an excess of anesthesia
  • Too little anesthesia
  • Delay anesthesia
  • Administer the wrong type of anesthesia
  • Fail to determine if a patient is allergic to anesthesia
  • Fail to provide proper instructions to patients before administering anesthesia
  • Fail to monitor patients under anesthesia
  • Use defective medical equipment while administering anesthesia
surgeons working in an operating room
surgeons working in an operating room

Anesthesia Errors

Anesthesia is crucial to providing comfort during intrusive medical procedures; however, merely receiving anesthesia carries risk. Anesthesia mistakes take place daily and can sometimes result in death. Complications can arise when doctors:

  • Administer an excess of anesthesia
  • Too little anesthesia
  • Delay anesthesia
  • Administer the wrong type of anesthesia
  • Fail to determine if a patient is allergic to anesthesia
  • Fail to provide proper instructions to patients before administering anesthesia
  • Fail to monitor patients under anesthesia
  • Use defective medical equipment while administering anesthesia
gloved doctor's hand selecting a medical instrument for an operation

Surgical Errors

Surgical errors are preventable mistakes that surgeons and other medical professionals make during surgery. Thousands of these occur in the operating room each year. Examples of surgical errors include:

  • Cutting a nerve
  • Operating on the wrong body part
  • Leaving a surgical instrument inside the body
  • Accidental organ perforations

Compassionate and Competent Care After Medical Malpractice

If you or your family has been affected by medical negligence, turn to the team of attorneys with The Barnes Firm to seek justice. When a medical provider fails to provide prudent and proper care, it can lead to disastrous results. Our lawyers will evaluate your situation to determine whether you have a medical malpractice case.

We work hard to get you the compensation you deserve after suffering from medical negligence. Our attorneys have over 60 years of experience handling cases in New York and do not take a fee unless we win your case.

The Barnes Firm (800) 800-0000

Claim A Free Consultation
en English
en Englishes Spanish