There are a number of situations where medical errors can result in injuries. Each circumstance is unique and must be completely assessed by an experienced medical malpractice attorney.

Common areas where medical malpractice often occurs:

• Nursing negligence
• Misdiagnosis
• Post surgical infections
• Failure to refer a specialist
• Radiology failures

Nursing Negligence

In both hospitals and nursing homes, nurses play an important part in taking care of a patient's health. Nurses are usually accountable for following the physician's instructions and marking a patient's medical chart. Failure by a nurse to properly follow the doctor's orders or correctly mark a patient's chart can lead to injury or malpractice when caring for a patient.

Misdiagnosis

Any medical condition or injury can be wrongfully diagnosed. A valid medical malpractice claim, however, can only be established if there is evidence that a medical error caused the injury. One example where misdiagnosis leads to further injury is with cancer. A delay in diagnosing cancer can lead to a delay in treatment of cancer, which can decrease the changes of survival and recovery. Because some cancers are very aggressive and grow very quickly, a few months delay in diagnosis can make a huge difference. The more advanced the stage that the cancer is in, the lower the possibility of recovery and the greater the chances for death or recurrence. Legally, this is known as an "increased risk of harm."

There may be cases, however, where a medical error occurs but does not affect a patient's prognosis. Example: A failure by a physician to properly identify a fracture may be a medical error. But if the doctor correctly diagnoses the fracture one week later and no further harm has occurred, then there is no basis for a medical malpractice claim.

Post Surgical Infections

When a patient becomes infected during surgery, this does not necessarily mean that a malpractice error has occurred. If, however, a physician was medically negligent and did not diagnose the infection in time to treat it before severe damage occurred, then a patient may have a basis for a malpractice claim.

Abdominal and chest infections are especially cause for concern, because their symptoms need careful observation. This includes monitoring a patient's white blood cell count, temperature, any presence of pus, and other signs. If these symptoms are evident and not immediately treated, the infection can grow and lead to permanent injury, disability, or death.

Prescription Errors

If your doctor gives you the wrong medication, you may become severely ill or experience an adverse medical reaction. A doctor may also neglect to find out what other prescription medicine a patient may be taking. Certain medications, taken at the same time, can lead to severe injury, damage, and death. The medication may also be contraindicated, meaning that it ends up having the opposite effect than intended and could make a patient's medical condition worse.

Rosenbaum & Associates represents clients in Pennsylvania and New Jersey who wish to file medical malpractice claims. The specifics of each case are confidential and cannot be discussed on the Internet. However, if you would like more information because you believe you have been a victim of medical malpractice and you would like to find out whether you have a valid claim, contact us at 1-800-7-LEGAL-7 or get a Free Case Evaluation on our web site.