Common Types of Medical Malpractice

Medical malpractice occurs when a doctor or other health care provider fails to provide the standard of care, which is the degree of care that a reasonably prudent physician would provide to a patient under similar circumstances. A personal injury lawyer in Brantford can help you determine whether your case has merit and, if so, guide you through the legal process.

It’s important to note that this standard does not apply to emergencies or unforeseen events. Doctors are expected to act with little forethought and planning in these cases. This means if you are receiving treatment for an emergency condition like a heart attack or stroke, likely, your doctor won’t be held liable for any resulting damages. Some common types of medical malpractice include:

• Misdiagnosis

A misdiagnosis occurs when doctors fail to recognize an illness or disease in their patients or when they fail to make an accurate diagnosis after seeing symptoms and signs that point to a specific condition. For example, suppose your doctor tells you that you have allergies when you have herpes zoster (also known as shingles). In that case, they may be liable for damages caused by their mistake if they should have recognized it as such before administering treatment for the allergies.

• Failure to Treat

A failure to treat occurs when a doctor fails to provide appropriate treatment for an injury or disease they knew about before treating you. For example, if you have sprained your ankle and your doctor prescribes cold packs but fails to refer you to another physician who could prescribe physical therapy or cast your leg, this would be considered a failure to treat because it could result in long-term complications from the sprain if left untreated for too long. An injury lawyer in Hamilton will help you get the compensation you deserve for your injuries, including medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

• Prescribing Improper Drugs or Medications

This is another common type of medical malpractice because prescription drugs are potent medications that can cause serious side effects if misused or taken inappropriately. Prescribing the wrong drug to a patient can also lead to harm, injury or even death, which is why it is essential to be careful when prescribing medication.

• Failure to Perform Proper Tests

Doctors should always order appropriate tests when evaluating patients with symptoms related to certain conditions such as cancer or diabetes. If your doctor fails to order these tests or misreads test results, they could be liable if they fail to diagnose another problem that could have been treated early on.

• Prescribing Drugs with Side Effects Unbeknownst to the Patient

Patients have the right to know about all possible side effects of any medication they take. Doctors must disclose all potential dangers associated with a particular drug before prescribing it to their patients, but sometimes they either forget or deliberately hide some information from their patients. You need someone who understands medical terminology and procedures. A lawyer is familiar with medical terminology and procedures, which can confuse patients who aren’t medically trained.