Kansas City undoubtedly has some excellent healthcare facilities, but the quality of medical care can vary, and no providers are immune to mistakes. Medical errors are prevalent and can lead to numerous medical malpractice cases when healthcare providers fail to meet the accepted standard of care. When a health care provider acts negligently and causes harm to you or a loved one, you have the right to have your potential medical negligence claim investigated and possibly file a lawsuit. It becomes imperative you employ experienced and trusted medical malpractice lawyers such as Goza & Honnold.
Though the facts of every case are different, there are types of medical mistakes that occur often. During the many years Goza & Honnold has represented individuals and their families in Kansas and Missouri, they have litigated numerous cases involving:
Failure to Diagnose in Medical Malpractice
Appropriate treatment begins with a correct and timely diagnosis. Each time you are ill, your doctor performs a diagnostic workup to rule out potential causes and arrive at the correct diagnosis. But if your doctor fails to correctly diagnose you, your treatment will not be effective, and your symptoms can worsen. Diagnostic errors can lead to a failure to diagnose, causing significant harm. Delayed diagnosis can exacerbate patient conditions and result in missed treatment opportunities, further contributing to severe injuries.
Depending on the nature of the actual illness and the time that passes before the administration of appropriate treatment, injuries due to a failure to diagnose can be severe.
Medication Errors and Mistakes
Adequate communication among healthcare providers is often critical, especially when it comes to providing patients with medication. Medication mistakes are a common type of medical error and can occur when a doctor prescribes the wrong medication, when a nurse takes an order down incorrectly, or when a pharmacy fills the wrong prescription. The prescription might be inappropriate for the patient’s diagnosed condition, or it might be contraindicated, given the patient’s health history. These errors can lead to severe reactions, including respiratory reactions, anaphylaxis, and even death.
Pregnancy and Delivery Errors
There is no experience greater than the birth of a child. Sometimes, however, things can and do go wrong during labor. Fatal medical errors can occur during pregnancy and delivery, leading to severe consequences. Time becomes critical. Doctors and nurses need to diligently monitor both mothers and babies for any indications of fetal distress or medical complications. A missed warning sign or delay in inappropriate care can result in serious birth injuries, such as brain damage, cerebral palsy, and even death.
Hospital Falls
Patients in the hospital are often at their most vulnerable. Hospital patients have been in an accident, have a serious illness, are recovering from surgery, and might be taking strong medications. Hospital staff is trained to look for and evaluate conditions that place patients at risk for falls. The hospital staff assigns each patient a “fall score,” considering the patient’s medical history to determine the level of care needed to prevent a hospital fall. Unfortunately, patients often do not receive adequate assistance, and a fall occurs that results in broken bones, hip fractures, and, sometimes, serious head injuries.
Surgical Errors
Surgical errors are a common type of medical malpractice that can have devastating consequences for patients. These errors can occur during any type of surgical procedure, from routine operations to complex surgeries. Some common examples of surgical errors include:
- Wrong-site surgery: This occurs when a surgeon performs a procedure on the wrong part of the body. For example, a surgeon may operate on the wrong knee or remove the wrong organ.
- Wrong-patient surgery: This happens when a surgeon performs a procedure on the wrong patient, often due to misidentification or failure to verify the patient’s identity before starting the procedure.
- Surgical instrument left inside the patient: This occurs when a surgical instrument, such as a sponge or a scalpel, is left inside the patient’s body after the procedure.
- Surgical site infections: These infections occur when bacteria or other microorganisms infect the surgical site, leading to serious complications and potentially life-threatening conditions.
- Other surgical complications: These can include bleeding, organ damage, and other complications that can arise during or after surgery.
Surgical errors can be caused by a variety of factors, including:
- Human error: Surgeons and surgical teams are human and can make mistakes, even with the best training and experience.
- Systemic errors: Hospitals and healthcare systems can have flaws in their procedures and protocols that can lead to surgical errors.
- Lack of communication: Poor communication between surgeons, nurses, and other healthcare professionals can lead to misunderstandings and mistakes during surgery.
- Inadequate training: Surgeons and surgical teams may not have the necessary training or experience to perform complex procedures, leading to errors.
If you or a loved one has been injured due to a surgical error, it is essential to seek legal advice from a medical malpractice attorney. They can help you navigate the complex process of filing a medical malpractice claim and ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.
Contact Goza & Honnold
If you believe you have a potential medical malpractice case in Kansas City or the surrounding area, contact Goza & Honnold today for a free case consultation. You can speak with one of our experienced medical malpractice attorneys by calling (913) 451-3433. It is important to seek legal advice if you believe you have a medical malpractice lawsuit to understand your rights and the compensation you may be entitled to.
Goza & Honnold, a trusted personal injury law firm serving Missouri and Kansas, is known for our dedication to client advocacy and trial excellence. With a strong focus on auto accidents, medical negligence, and product liability cases, our experienced attorneys work diligently to secure fair outcomes while being fully prepared to take cases to trial when necessary. We work closely with our clients to build strong cases that reflect their unique experiences.