10 Arenas For Potential Medical Malpractice Negligence
Medical malpractice negligence can occur anywhere from the starting point of professional medical assessment to the point of cure, improvement, or repair in situations involving illness, injury, or births. Individuals and entities alike may be involved in such occurrences.
There are many potential scenarios in which malpractice or negligence can arise, the majority of which involve one or more of the ten listed below. In Florida, the law defines medical malpractice negligence specifically with relation to a breach of the prevailing medical standard of care.1 Breaches can occur in multiples and involve several parties at once.
Here are 10 case arenas that have the potential to involve medical malpractice negligence:
1. Physician/Surgeon/Specialist Assessment
Evaluations that result in any form of failure to diagnose, including in cases in which medical malpractice negligence involves televisits (including phone consultations) and/or online assessments.
2. Lab Testing
Errors in lab tests involving blood, other bodily fluids, tissue samples, or other specimens that are done at medical laboratories or related testing centers can result in medical malpractice negligence lawsuits. Patient record and/or specimen mix-ups and lost samples are also included in this group.
3. Radiology/Imaging
From ultrasounds and sonograms to x-rays and full body scans, numerous errors can occur, including those involving patient identification, mislabeling of patient records, misdiagnosis, and errors related to medical equipment malfunction.
4. Oncology
Improperly transported, stored, or interpreted pathology slides,2 misinterpreted results, medication errors, delayed treatment, and patient record mix-ups are among the causes for legal intervention due to medical malpractice negligence in this group.
5. Hospital/Medical Facilities and Staff
Medical malpractice in this arena includes patient record mix-ups, improper medicating, lack of monitoring, failure to medicate, abuse, intentional neglect, lack of practitioner training, machine/technology malfunctions, and cyberattacks, among other scenarios.
6. Anesthesiology
Medical malpractice cases involving improper anesthesia-related medicating, application, and/or monitoring resulting in paralysis, organ damage, or death are included in this category, as are allergic reactions and medication contraindications resulting in injury or death.
7. Home-Based Medical Care
Similar to instances of medical malpractice negligence involving medical facilities, physicians, specialists, and staff, potential cases in this arena include patient record mix-ups, improper medicating, lack of monitoring, abuse, intentional neglect, untimely dispersement of medication, and failure to properly treat wounds.
8. Outpatient Services
Medical malpractice negligence occurrences in this area include those that occur in one-day surgery centers, urgent care centers, and specialty medical-service offices.
9. Birthing Centers/Birth-Related Services
Whether hospital based, hospital affiliated, or separate entities, birthing centers are potential sites of medical malpractice negligence, and may involve state-owned or managed facilities or privately owned facilities as well as improper actions on behalf of obstetricians, physicians, midwives, nurses, and other medical staff.
10. Discharge
Improper discharge that may be due to medical malpractice negligence can be caused by failure to provide proper discharge instructions or medications or by premature release of a patient resulting in harm, among other things.
All forms of medical malpractice negligence, not only in Florida, but also throughout the rest of the nation, remain a serious multi-faceted concern with the potential to seriously affect patients of all ages.
If you have been injured due to Malpractice or Negligence in Florida, or a loved one has been injured or has died due to Negligence in the state, contacting an experienced lawyer or expert legal team for an initial consultation is a crucial step. Researching information about lawyers who specialize in Medical Malpractice cases is helpful, and when possible, lawyers or legal teams who specialize in the particular type of Malpractice lawsuit case you may be dealing with. Qualified legal professionals can effectively assess your potential case and guide you on the proper legal steps to take to seek justice and maximize compensation.
Many lawyers and legal teams offer free initial consultations for cases involving Malpractice. At Mallard & Sharp, P.A., we specialize in a wide variety of cases, including those involving provable Malpractice in Miami, South Florida, and all other areas of Florida. To schedule a free initial consultation with a member of our expert legal team call 877.662.5527 or 305.461.4800.