Bethlehem Medical Malpractice Lawyer
When you visit a doctor for an injury or illness, you expect that you will get proper treatment. This does not always happen, though. Doctors are human just like the rest of us and they sometimes make mistakes.
When a doctor makes a mistake when diagnosing or treating a patient, it raises a number of concerns. Most importantly, what is the status of the patient? What impact did the medical error have on their condition? Also, does the patient have a medical malpractice case? It’s possible, but keep in mind that medical malpractice cases are complex. They are very hard to win without proper legal representation.
That’s where the experienced team at O’Donnell Law Offices comes in. We know the steps involved and what you need to do so your claim has the best chance of success. Contact our Bethlehem medical malpractice lawyer so we can determine the best course of action.
Common Types of Medical Malpractice
A doctor can be negligent in many ways. Here are some common types of medical malpractice:
- Misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis. This is a serious issue accounting for one-third of medical malpractice claims. An incorrect or delayed diagnosis can result in the patient receiving the wrong treatment. As a result, the patient’s prognosis can worsen and even lead to death. A misdiagnosis can occur when a doctor fails to order appropriate testing, makes errors when conducting tests, or fails to recognize common symptoms.
- Medication errors. Many prescription drugs look and sound similar, so mix-ups and errors are common. When a patient receives the wrong dose or the wrong medication altogether, it can cause serious side effects and even death.
- Surgical errors. A lot can go wrong during surgery. The surgeon may operate on the wrong body part. The patient may also receive the wrong dosage of anesthesia or get tools and gauze stuck inside their bodies. If the doctor does not follow proper sanitation protocols, the patient may suffer an infection.
Standard of Care
Standard of care refers to treatment that is accepted and widely used by medical experts as proper treatment for a certain type of disease. It is a diagnostic and treatment process that a doctor should follow for a certain type of patient or illness.
In terms of medical malpractice, standard of care refers to the level at which the average provider in a given community would practice. It is how similarly qualified medical professionals would have managed the patient’s care under the same circumstances. In a medical malpractice lawsuit, the plaintiff must establish the appropriate standard of care and prove that it was breached.
Contact O’Donnell Law Offices Today
Medical malpractice is a common occurrence and a leading cause of death in the United States. If you or a loved one has been affected, it’s important that you have someone on your side to fight your case.
Don’t handle such a complex claim on your own. A Bethlehem medical malpractice lawyer at O’Donnell Law Offices will aggressively fight your case and help you get a favorable outcome. Schedule a free consultation today by calling (570) 821-5717 or filling out the online form.
