Rehoboth Beach Medical Malpractice Attorney

Medical malpractice claims often arise from various types of negligence, including medical errors such as prescription errors, surgical errors, failure to diagnose a medical condition, and failure to monitor. These errors can lead to significant physical and emotional pain and suffering, financial expenses, and loss of income for patients and their families. Understanding these common forms of malpractice is crucial for recognizing your legal rights and ensuring accountability in healthcare.

Misdiagnosis or Delayed Diagnosis

Misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis occurs when a healthcare professional incorrectly diagnoses a patient’s condition or fails to diagnose it promptly, resulting in harm to the patient. In Delaware, to substantiate a claim for misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis, the plaintiff must demonstrate that the doctor’s failure to correctly diagnose the condition deviated from the accepted medical standard of care and directly caused injury or worsening of the patient’s condition.

Surgical Errors

Surgical errors occur when a surgeon deviates from the accepted standard of care during a surgical procedure, resulting in harm to the patient. Examples of surgical errors include performing surgery on the wrong site, leaving surgical instruments inside the patient, and damaging surrounding tissues or organs.

Medication Mistakes

Medication mistakes occur when a healthcare professional improperly prescribes, dispenses, or administers medication, leading to patient harm. Common types of medication mistakes include prescribing the wrong medication, incorrect dosage, failure to account for known allergies, and dangerous drug interactions.

Birth Injuries

Birth injuries refer to any harm to a newborn that results from medical negligence during the labor and delivery process. Birth injuries often arise when healthcare professionals fail to adhere to the accepted standard of care, resulting in preventable harm to the baby or mother. Common examples of birth injuries include cerebral palsy, Erb’s palsy, fractures, and brain damage. These injuries may occur due to improper use of delivery tools, failure to adequately monitor fetal distress, delayed C-sections, or failure to address complications that arise during childbirth.

Anesthesia Errors

Anesthesia errors involve mistakes made by healthcare professionals during the administration of anesthesia, which can lead to significant patient harm. These errors are often considered a deviation from the accepted standard of care and can include administering incorrect dosages, using faulty equipment, failing to properly monitor the patient, and not identifying potential adverse reactions or allergies. Anesthesia errors can result in a range of serious consequences, such as brain damage, organ failure, nerve injuries, or even death.

Hospital Negligence

Hospital negligence occurs when a hospital facility fails to meet the standard of care required of it, resulting in harm to a patient. Hospitals can be held liable for a variety of negligent actions, including inadequate staffing, improper maintenance of equipment, and failing to implement or follow proper policies and procedures. Additionally, the hospital can be responsible for the negligent actions of its employees, such as doctors, nurses, and other healthcare staff, under the doctrine of vicarious liability.