Common Examples of Medical Malpractice

Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare provider fails to meet the accepted standard of care, resulting in harm to the patient. Here are some common examples:

Misdiagnosis or Delayed Diagnosis:

• A doctor may fail to correctly diagnose a condition, or there may be a significant delay in the diagnosis, leading to harm that could have been avoided with timely treatment.

Surgical Errors:

• Mistakes during surgery, such as performing the wrong procedure, leaving surgical instruments inside the patient, or operating on the wrong body part, can lead to severe complications or even death.

Medication Errors:

• Administering the wrong medication, prescribing an incorrect dosage, or failing to recognize harmful drug interactions can cause serious harm to patients.

Birth Injuries:

• Negligence during pregnancy or childbirth, such as improper use of delivery tools or failure to monitor fetal distress, can lead to injuries to both the mother and child, such as cerebral palsy or Erb’s palsy.

Anesthesia Errors:

• Mistakes made by anesthesiologists, such as administering too much or too little anesthesia, failing to monitor the patient, or overlooking allergies, can lead to brain damage, organ failure, or death.

Failure to Treat:

• A healthcare provider may fail to provide appropriate treatment after diagnosing a condition, or may discharge a patient too early, worsening the patient’s condition.

Infections Due to Poor Sanitation:

• Unsanitary conditions in hospitals, clinics, or during medical procedures can lead to severe infections that could have been prevented with proper hygiene.

Improper Monitoring:

• Failing to monitor a patient’s vital signs or condition during or after a procedure can result in avoidable complications, such as heart attacks, strokes, or respiratory
  failure.