South Carolina Medical Malpractice Attorney

Common Forms of Medical Malpractice

Medical malpractice is a multifaceted issue, encompassing a diverse array of incidences where healthcare providers fail to meet expected standards of care. This complex domain manifests in various forms, each with its unique characteristics and repercussions.

Common examples of medical malpractice include:

• Misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis: This occurs when a healthcare provider either diagnoses a patient with the wrong medical condition or fails to diagnose a severe illness. Delayed or misdiagnosis could lead to unnecessary or incorrect treatment, an exacerbation of a patient’s disease, and, in extreme cases, death.
• Medication errors: These are instances where a patient receives the wrong medication or dosage, which could be due to multiple factors, such as miscommunication, poor handwriting, or system errors. Such errors could lead to severe adverse reactions or ineffective treatment for the actual condition.
• Surgical errors: These are mistakes that occur during surgery, such as operating on the wrong body part, leaving surgical instruments inside a patient, or causing unnecessary damage to tissues surrounding the site of surgery.
• Birth injuries: These refer to injuries sustained by a mother or her baby during childbirth due to negligence. Examples include failure to detect fetal distress or misuse of delivery tools.
• Anesthesia errors: These are mistakes made in administering anesthesia, such as incorrect dosage, failure to monitor vital signs, or failure to inform the patient of necessary preoperative procedures. Anesthesia errors could lead to severe injury or even death.
• Hospital-acquired infections: These are infections contracted by patients during their stay in the hospital. Negligence in adhering to hygiene standards or failure to sterilize medical equipment properly can lead to infections, which can affect a patient’s recovery and may even lead to severe complications.
• Radiology errors: These occur when a radiologist misreads or misinterprets the results of imaging studies like X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs. Such errors could lead to misdiagnosis, delayed diagnosis, or incorrect treatment, potentially worsening a patient’s condition.
• Failure to obtain informed consent: Healthcare providers are legally obligated to explain the risks, benefits, and alternatives of a proposed treatment or procedure. If a healthcare provider proceeds without obtaining informed consent, and a patient suffers harm as a result, it could be a potential case of medical malpractice.

Understanding the different forms of medical malpractice is the first step in recognizing when it has occurred and taking appropriate legal action.

If you suspect you’ve been subjected to a form of malpractice that isn’t outlined above, don’t hesitate to reach out for a consultation with our attorney. It can be challenging to discern whether you have a viable case, but our team is prepared to assist you in making this critical determination.

Who Can Be Found Liable for Medical Malpractice?

Understanding who can be held liable is a crucial part of the process of filing a lawsuit. In South Carolina, a wide range of healthcare providers can potentially be found accountable for medical negligence.

Primarily, individual healthcare professionals such as doctors, nurses, therapists, and technicians may be held liable if their actions or omissions deviate from the accepted standard of care expected in their field, leading to patient harm.