Five different types of medical negligence

Whilst no one wants to be a victim of medical negligence, it can be a reality that affects many people in their lifetime. If you find yourself in a situation where you believe you have the grounds to make a claim, it’s important that you seek the help of specialist medical negligence claim lawyers. 

In this article, we’ll be discussing five different types of medical negligence and what you should be looking out for.

Misdiagnosis

If a medical professional fails to diagnose a patient with the condition they’re suffering from, the patient could receive the wrong treatment, or even no treatment at all. 

Misdiagnosis may occur if the doctor believes the patient is suffering from a different illness or may not notice their condition in the first place. This could cause the condition to worsen, which could potentially lead to life-threatening consequences.

Surgical error

Surgeries always carry a level of risk, so patients must sign a document to state that they understand potential dangers. The surgeon has a responsibility to ensure everything goes as smoothly as possible, but sometimes mistakes can be made. 

Surgical negligence could involve a patient undergoing the wrong surgery, or where the surgery may not have been necessary in the first place. It can also take place if the patient didn’t fully consent to the surgery.

Prescription errors

Similar to misdiagnosis, prescription errors can occur if a patient has been prescribed the wrong medication. Thousands of prescriptions are dispensed every day and whilst it’s a rare occurrence, errors can happen. 

Taking the wrong medication could have serious consequences for the patient. It may make the condition worse, or they may even be allergic to the medication.

Pregnancy and birth injuries

Birth injuries can refer to any harm made to the mother or baby during or after the pregnancy. These injuries can have life-changing consequences and can be devastating for the family.  

Negligence can occur in wrongful birth cases, such as a failed vasectomy or failure to inform the parents that a child would be born with a specific injury.

This can also include obstetric violence, which refers to the mistreatment of women in a childbirth setting, usually in an attempt to control the female body.

Mental health negligence

Mental health patients are often vulnerable individuals who require a specialist level of care and treatment. Negligence of this nature can entail many factors, from misdiagnosis to absurdly long waiting lists to receive the necessary psychiatric treatment.

Plus, it can involve the failure of medical care providers to ensure the patient’s wellbeing and safety is in hand. Inadequate staffing, unreasonable force used to detain someone and dosage errors are also factors, too.

This is a guest blog entry.