New York is known to have some of the best medical facilities in the country, with 26 hospitals recognized as the best regional hospitals. However, this does not mean that they are perfect.
When you or someone you love develops a devastating health condition from medical malpractice, it is crucial to take prompt action and seek justice from the damage that the healthcare providers have caused. Here are three common forms of medical malpractice in New York:
Misdiagnosis
People go to the doctor because they get injured or feel sick and want to get better. However, when a doctor fails to provide their patient with the correct diagnosis for their injury or illness, their condition can worsen and lead to severe complications.
For example, a patient went to the doctor to complain about their persistent cough and heavy breathing. The doctor diagnosed them with the flu and gave them cold medications. After a week, the patient’s condition worsened, and it turned out that their symptoms were caused by pneumonia.
Medication errors
This medical malpractice happens when medical professionals prescribe the wrong drugs, administer incorrect dosages or dispense wrong, similar-sounding drug names. These mistakes often happen when there is a miscommunication between the healthcare providers or when a pharmacist misreads a doctor’s prescription.
Another example of medication error is when a doctor fails to spot a known drug allergy on a patient’s medical record. After taking the incorrect drug, the patient’s throat begins to swell and their body goes into overdrive. This type of severe allergic reaction can be deadly without prompt treatment.
Anesthesia errors
Anesthesia is a key component of most surgical procedures. Although pain-numbing drugs are usually safe, miscalculations in the administration can also happen and lead to dire complications like oxygen deprivation, brain damage or even death.
The three common examples of this medical malpractice include administering too much or too little anesthesia, failing to monitor the patient’s vital signs while on surgery and having a delayed response to the patient’s adverse reactions.
Seeking justice after medical malpractice
When we ask for the help of medical professionals, it is because we want to receive proper treatment. When your healthcare providers fail their duty of care, you have the right to sue them for malpractice and demand fair compensation for your damages.