Kansas City undoubtedly has some excellent health care facilities, but no providers are immune to mistakes. 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
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. 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 Mistakes
Adequate communication among health care providers is often critical, especially when it comes to providing patients medications. Medication errors 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. Time becomes critical. Doctors and nurses need to diligently monitor both mothers and babies for any indications of fetal distress or medical complication. A missed warning sign or delay 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,” which helps 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.
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 skilled medical negligence attorneys by calling (913) 451-3433.