6 Signs You Should Talk to a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

When you go to the doctor, you trust them to help you feel better. You expect to receive top-notch care, but unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Sometimes, medical professionals make mistakes — and those mistakes can lead to serious consequences that necessitate the services of a medical malpractice lawyer.

Medical malpractice occurs when a doctor, another healthcare professional, or a healthcare facility causes harm or injury to a patient through negligence or omission.

It’s common, but when it happens to you or a loved one, it’s not always easy to recognize if you have a medical malpractice case on your hands. If you think you’ve been a victim, it’s important to seek legal counsel from a medical malpractice lawyer.

Our trusted attorneys at Boren, Oliver, & Coffey, LLP, are ready to help. With decades of experience behind us, we partner with you to understand your medical malpractice case and fight for the justice you deserve.

Here are six signs that you should talk to a medical malpractice lawyer.

1. Misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis

Diagnosis errors are some of the most common medical mistakes. If your doctor diagnosed you with the wrong condition or failed to diagnose your condition promptly, you might have grounds for a medical malpractice case.

A misdiagnosis can lead to unnecessary treatment, while a delayed diagnosis often means delayed treatment. Both of these scenarios can result in serious health consequences or even death.

2. Medication errors

Medication errors are another common medical mistake. A few common medication errors include prescribing the wrong medication, prescribing the wrong dosage, or failing to recognize or disclose potential side effects.

While medication errors might not sound serious at first, incorrect medication and improper dosages can cause significant harm and severe side effects.

3. Surgical errors

Surgery always comes with some risks, but surgeons are required to follow specific standards of care to minimize those risks. Any deviation from these standards can result in serious injury. If you’ve had surgery and suffered complications, it could be a sign of medical malpractice.

Surgical errors include administering the wrong dose of anesthesia, performing the wrong operation, post-operative infection, lasting nerve damage, and much more.

4. Birth injuries

Birth injuries are physical injuries suffered during childbirth. These injuries can affect either the mother or baby, and they can have lifelong consequences.

Newborn baby birth injuries (sometimes called neonatal birth trauma) can include a variety of things, from bruising to broken bones. Some common birth injuries for mothers include vaginal tears, postpartum hemorrhage, and uterine prolapse. If you or your baby suffered a birth injury due to medical negligence, you should contact a medical malpractice lawyer.

5. Hospital negligence

Hospitals have a duty to provide a safe and secure environment for their patients. If a hospital fails to uphold this duty, patients can suffer serious harm.

Hospital negligence can include failures in sanitation, staffing, and emergency response. This negligence can result in injury, infection, or even death.

6. Failure to obtain informed consent

All medical professionals must obtain informed consent from patients before any procedure or treatment. This means they must inform their patient of any risks and benefits of the treatment, as well as any available alternatives.

If your healthcare provider fails to obtain informed consent from you, and you suffer harm as a result of treatment, it could be a sign of medical malpractice.

Medical malpractice cases are complex. But if you or a loved one has suffered harm at the hands of a healthcare worker or facility, the responsible party must be held accountable.

Our medical malpractice lawyers can help you understand your legal options and receive the compensation you deserve. Your health and well-being are essential, and you can fight for your rights. Contact us to schedule your free legal consultation.