Medical malpractice in Atlanta can take a variety of different forms. In some cases, a surgical procedure may go awry because of medical negligence. At other times, a surgeon may leave a foreign object inside a patient’s body, leading to a future complication, or perform an incorrect medical procedure.
Some of the most common types of medical negligence and malpractice that occur in Atlanta include the following:
- Incorrectly or negligently performed medical procedures – Any type of medical procedure, including surgery or an injection, may be performed incorrectly. When medical doctors and surgeons perform a medical procedure, they are required to do so in accordance with established medical norms and standards of care. Surgeons, for example, are often held to a national standard of care. When a healthcare provider fails to perform a medical procedure according to the applicable standard of care and an injury results, the healthcare provider may be liable for medical malpractice and any injuries or illnesses that the patient receives as a result.
- Careless actions or inactions while performing a medical procedure – Medical doctors and surgeons are required to perform procedures carefully at all times. This attention to care means following all established protocols before, during, and after the medical procedure. In the context of medical procedures, carelessness often includes leaving a surgical tool or another medical instrument, such as a sponge or syringe, inside a patient’s body before closing all surgical incisions. This type of carelessness can lead to serious medical complications, as well as the need to file a claim or lawsuit for medical malpractice against the careless healthcare provider.
- Failing to obtain the patient’s written consent before performing a medical procedure – Before performing any medical procedure, such as a surgery, a healthcare provider is required to explain to the patient what will happen during the procedure, as well as all of the potential risks and benefits associated with the procedure. The healthcare provider must obtain the patient’s informed written consent (or the consent of the patient’s legal guardian or representative, in the event the patient cannot give their own informed consent) before beginning the medical procedure. In cases where a healthcare provider performs a surgery, injection, or some other medical procedure on a patient without the patient’s written consent, the provider may be liable for medical negligence when an injury results. Similarly, if the provider performs an additional medical procedure or otherwise exceeds the scope of the patient’s written consent and an injury results, then there may be a legal liability on the part of the healthcare provider.
- Performing a medical procedure on the wrong body part – In addition to explaining the risks and benefits of a particular medical or surgical procedure to a patient and obtaining the patient’s informed written consent before beginning the procedure, the healthcare provider must perform the correct procedure on the patient. If the provider performs an incorrect medical or surgical procedure or performs a procedure on a wrong part of the body, they likely committed malpractice.
- Failing to maintain a sanitary office environment – Healthcare providers are responsible for making sure that their offices and facilities are clean and sanitized adequately at all times. Given the current COVID-19 pandemic, this requirement is very much at the forefront of public consciousness. When a provider fails to properly sanitize their facility, including sterilizing instruments and other equipment used during medical procedures, and a medical complication or illness results, then a medical malpractice claim may ensue.
- Misdiagnosing, failing to diagnose, or delayed diagnosis of a patient’s medical condition – In addition to errors committed during a medical procedure or failing to perform a medical procedure safely and correctly, medical malpractice can take place when a healthcare provider misdiagnoses or fails to diagnose a patient’s medical condition. Malpractice can also occur when a healthcare provider diagnoses a patient’s medical condition too late to avoid serious consequences from happening (such as in the case of cancer). Healthcare providers are responsible for making sure that they accurately diagnose a patient’s medical condition by performing the necessary diagnostic tests, such as MRIs and biopsies, promptly. When a healthcare provider fails to make a prompt diagnosis, a patient may suffer additional complications, including a long-term illness that may ultimately result in death.
If a healthcare provider’s negligence has injured you or a person you care about, the knowledgeable Atlanta medical malpractice lawyers at Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC can help you pursue your claim. Our legal team can assist you in taking the proper steps to pursue the monetary compensation that you need for your injury or illness.
