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Patient-safety researchers have determined that medical errors and malpractice are now the third leading cause of death in the United States, with nearly 200,000 deaths across the nation among Medicare beneficiaries alone reported in 2008. It is estimated that this number is higher today, after taking into consideration the increase in hospital admissions. Most medical error cases fall into the following categories: misdiagnosis, surgical error, incorrect medication prescription or dosage, or gynecological error.
Misdiagnosis
One of the most common medical errors, misdiagnosis is often a result of negligence or incorrect thought process as opposed to a unique case or disease. Misdiagnosis cases tend not to gather as much publicity as surgical errors which are the subjects of horror stories around the world but can be just as dangerous and deadly. Diagnostic errors can sometimes be complicated, and may not be detected for years, if at all.
Incorrect Medication Handling
Incorrectly prescribing or dosing medications can stem from errors by physicians, nurses, pharmacists, or pharmacy staff. These errors can be anything from an incorrectly labeled medication to the dispensation of the wrong medicine. According to date from the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy, errors with medication dispensation harm well over a million people annually.
Gynecological Errors
Medical errors related to childbirth include a wide range of complications, from negligence during prenatal care, to errors during childbirth. Some common issues include failing to recognize a high-risk pregnancy, failing to identify an ectopic pregnancy, misuse of delivery tools, and failure to respond to signs of fetal distress promptly.
If you or a loved one has been a victim of medical malpractice, the team at Lanzotti & Rau can help. We go to every length to ensure that you receive the compensation that you deserve so that you can retain your quality of life while focusing on your recovery. Contact us today at 573.335.9300 with any questions regarding our medical malpractice services.
