Surgical errors, medication errors and anesthesia errors are some of the most common reasons patients sue their physicians, according to an article by law firm Morris James published July 11 on JDSupra.
The six events that most commonly cause patients to sue:
1. Misdiagnosis, failure to diagnose and delayed diagnosis: If healthcare providers fail to identify or diagnose a patient's medical condition and it leads to harm for the patient, providers can be liable for medical malpractice, the article said.
2. Surgical errors: Surgical errors including puncturing organs, operating on the wrong body part or leaving a surgical tool inside of the body can constitute medical malpractice. Errors can result in infection, organ damage or even death.
3. Medication errors: If physicians write an incorrect dosage prescription that causes a patient harm, they could be liable for malpractice.
4. Anesthesia errors: There are several common mistakes when administering anesthesia, including giving a dosage that is too big or too small, improper intubation, improper monitoring or not properly instructing patients on pre-surgery prep.
5. Pregnancy care and labor and delivery management: Birth injuries can cause harm to both mothers and babies, including infection, uncontrolled bleeding and lack of oxygen.
6. Failure to monitor: If medical providers fail to properly monitor a patient following treatment or a procedure, the failure can cause harm and leave physicians liable, the article said.