Getting Compensation For Victims Of Medical Malpractice
Health care professionals are held to a standard of care, meaning that they are required to provide the appropriate treatment or level of care necessary given the circumstances and condition of the patient. When a care provider fails to meet this standard or is simply negligent in providing needed care, it is considered medical negligence and it may be grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit. Victims of medical negligence often suffer lifelong consequences to their health and may lose the ability to continue working. In these situations, the negligent health care provider can be held liable for compensating the victim for current and future medical expenses, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, and pain and suffering.
Common Medical Errors That Lead To Medical Negligence Claims
Not every medical error is considered negligent. Side effects and long-term effects are not always predictable. Negligence happens when a health care provider fails to provide a reasonable level of care in the given circumstances. Below are some of the most common types of errors that lead to medical malpractice claims.
Surgical errors. This includes performing the wrong procedure or performing a procedure on the wrong part of the body, anesthesia errors, improperly cleaned equipment or facilities leading to a virus or infection and simple negligence.
Medication errors. This type of error is typically the fault of a doctor, a nurse or a pharmacist. It includes administering the wrong dose or form of a medication, prescribing inappropriate drugs or incorrectly filling a prescription.
Failure to diagnose or misdiagnosis. Causes behind misdiagnosis and failure to diagnose are usually linked to ignoring symptoms, failing to order the appropriate tests or misinterpreting test results.
Falls while in a health care facility. Part of the standard of care applied to health care workers is to minimize the risk of patients falling. Falls happen when there is not adequate attention to taking safety precautions.
At Kobes Legal PLLC, we help hold health care providers accountable for their actions.
Representing Parents In Birth Injury Cases
If your child suffered a birth injury and you believe it was caused by negligence on the part of a doctor or another health care provider, we can help determine if you have a valid claim. The first step is to establish whether the symptoms your child displays are the result of an injury or a congenital birth defect. Once a birth defect is ruled out, we look deeper into the medical records on file and interview the doctors and staff who were present. Common birth injuries include:
- Forceps injuries
- Hypoxia/asphyxia
- Spinal cord injuries
- Cerebral palsy
- Cephalohematoma
- C-section errors
If you believe your child’s birth injury was caused by a negligent health care provider, we can put our experienced legal team to work for you. Sometimes symptoms of a birth injury don’t present themselves until months after the birth when your child fails to reach milestones like standing up or crawling. As soon as you suspect something may be wrong, get in touch with us.
Contact Kobes Legal PLLC Today
If you believe your child’s birth injury was the result of negligent acts by a health care provider, get in touch with us by calling 206-915-7177 or filling out the online contact form.