Having to undergo surgery or other medical treatments and procedures can be an extremely worrying time in anyone’s life. However, suffering avoidable injuries or aggravation of any conditions due to a medical provider’s negligence can be devastating, frightening, and financially crippling for a patient and their family.
Medical malpractice is a growing concern in the United States. According to Johns Hopkins University, medical errors are now the third-leading cause of death in the U.S., following heart disease and cancer. Considering that medical malpractice deaths are generally avoidable by delivering a good standard of care, the figures are nothing short of shocking and upsetting.
If you are personally affected and believe that your or your loved one’s injuries occurred due to a medical professional’s negligence in Anaheim, do not hesitate to get help and legal advice. An Anaheim medical malpractice lawyer can analyze your claim and help you get what you deserve. Call Ben Crump Law, PLLC now to determine whether you have a claim by dialing (800) 641-8998.
Cases of Medical Malpractice
Just as there are various illnesses and medical conditions, there can also be numerous different circumstances in which medical malpractice arises. California is one of the top four states where medical malpractice claims occur, according to Hofstra University.
To have a claim, a patient has to prove that a medical professional failed to deliver current standards of medical care by proving:
- The medical provider had a duty of care
- They breached their duty
- The breach caused you harm
- You have damages
Examples of medical malpractice include:
Surgical Mistakes
Doctors and nurses can potentially make mistakes during surgeries, such as operating on the wrong site or the wrong patient altogether. Surgical errors can also include using non-sterile equipment or leaving any instruments or other foreign objects inside the body. Improper aftercare and the failure to adequately monitor a patient’s vital signs during and after an operation can all count as surgical errors.
Anesthesia Mistakes
Surgery and anesthesia are never entirely risk-free. However, medical malpractice can occur if an anesthetist does not adhere to the basic standard of care and skips some important checks. If an anesthetist fails to examine a patient’s medical history thoroughly or does not monitor a patient adequately throughout the surgery, they could be negligent. Anesthesia errors can lead to a patient’s death and may have other devastating consequences, such as brain damage.
Misdiagnosis and Late Diagnosis
Misdiagnosis occurs when a doctor diagnoses a patient with the wrong condition, such as misdiagnosing a heart attack for acid reflux, for example. A delayed or missed diagnosis can occur if a doctor misses an illness entirely or diagnoses it only after a patient has been to see the doctor several times.
This can happen with cancer, for example. A late or misdiagnosis can have devastating consequences for a patient and cause fatalities or lead to a reduced life expectancy in some cases. A patient might also receive the wrong treatment and medication, leaving them exposed to unnecessary side-effects.
Birth Injuries
Childbirth can be a very stressful time for the mother and child and may require doctors’ and midwives’ quick decisions. If a doctor hesitates too long or rushes a birth, the baby can suffer from serious conditions, such as lack of oxygen, serious head injuries, and irreversible nerve damage. Unfortunately, when mistakes happen, they can have tragic consequences for the baby and the entire family, especially if they leave a child disabled for the rest of their lives. The emotional trauma, physical pain, and lifelong expenses can devastate an entire family.
Hospital-Acquired Infections
Contracting an infection in a hospital can end up deadly for a patient, especially if they are already unwell due to recent surgery or suffering from a medical condition that leaves their immune system compromised, such as cancer. Medical staff can potentially avoid infections by taking relatively simple measures such as good wound care and hand hygiene. Hospital-acquired infections can prolong hospital stays and may require additional expensive treatments. Dangerous infections that patients can acquire in hospitals include sepsis, surgical site infections, and skin infections.
Other types of medical malpractice can include discharging a patient too early, misinterpreting lab results, making medication errors, and many others. An Anaheim medical malpractice lawyer can help you assess your claim and determine whether you could hold a negligent medical professional responsible for your damages.
For a free legal consultation with a medical malpractice lawyer serving Anaheim, call (800) 641-8998
Compensation in Medical Malpractice Cases
If a negligent doctor or other medical professional is responsible for your physical and emotional pain and medical expenses, you could hold them accountable and recover compensation. While every medical malpractice claim is different, you could potentially recover various types of economic and non-economic compensation, including but not limited to:
- Current and future medical bills
- Lost wages and future lost earnings
- Medical transport costs
- Physical therapy
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- A home health aide
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional anguish
- Disability
Depending on your claim, you could receive other damages. An Anaheim medical malpractice lawyer can offer advice and help calculate your damages.
Anaheim Medical Malpractice Lawyer Near Me (800) 641-8998
Call Ben Crump Law, PLLC Today for Help
Medical malpractice can ruin lives and cause hardship for families. Knowing that all this suffering, such as the physical and emotional pain, could have been avoided can feel frustrating. Unfortunately, medical malpractice cases can be extremely complex and heavily contested, possibly requiring several expert witnesses’ testimony.
However, you are not alone. Ben Crump Law, PLLC knows how to tackle tough and complicated medical malpractice cases. We can potentially help you get justice and recover what is due to you in several ways:
- Collecting crucial evidence to prove your case
- Assessing and calculating your damages comprehensively
- Providing medical expert witnesses
- Representing you at trial
Do not wait to contact Ben Crump Law, PLLC for help with your claim today by dialing (800) 641-8998.
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