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If you or a loved one has suffered due to a medical professional’s negligence, the trusted team at Brown, Bass & Jeter is here to help. As a medical malpractice lawyer serving Greenwood and the surrounding areas, our firm understands the devastating impact that medical errors can have on your health, finances, and future. We are committed to holding negligent healthcare providers accountable and pursuing the compensation you deserve. Contact us today at (601) 327-4024 to schedule your free consultation and learn more about your legal options.

Common Medical Malpractice Cases Seen in Greenwood Hospitals and Clinics

When a patient seeks medical care, they place their trust in the hands of healthcare professionals. Unfortunately, errors can occur in even the most well-intentioned medical environments. Medical malpractice happens when a healthcare provider deviates from the standard of care, leading to harm or injury. If you’ve experienced harm as a result of a medical professional’s mistake, it’s important to understand the common types of medical malpractice cases that occur in Greenwood hospitals and clinics.

Surgical Errors

Surgical procedures, while often necessary, come with inherent risks. However, medical malpractice can occur when the surgeon or medical team fails to meet the standard of care. Surgical errors can take many forms, from operating on the wrong part of the body to leaving foreign objects inside a patient after surgery. These kinds of mistakes can lead to serious injuries, prolonged recovery, and in some cases, additional surgeries.

In Greenwood, we’ve handled cases where patients have experienced surgery-related malpractice due to negligence such as improper sterilization, lack of communication among medical staff, or failure to follow correct procedures. It’s crucial that hospitals maintain strict protocols to ensure safety during surgery, and when these protocols are ignored, patients can suffer as a result.

Misdiagnosis and Delayed Diagnosis

Misdiagnosis is one of the most common types of medical malpractice. A misdiagnosis occurs when a healthcare provider fails to correctly identify a patient’s condition. This can lead to unnecessary treatments, worsening of the actual condition, and even death. For example, misdiagnosing cancer as a benign condition can delay critical treatments, giving the disease more time to progress.

A delayed diagnosis can be just as harmful. If a doctor fails to diagnose a condition in time, the patient may miss the opportunity for early treatment that could have prevented serious complications. Common examples of misdiagnoses include cancer, heart attacks, infections, and strokes. In Greenwood, misdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis can occur in emergency rooms, family practices, and specialist settings, often resulting in long-term health consequences.

Medication Errors

Medication errors are another common form of medical malpractice. These mistakes can happen at various stages, including prescribing the wrong medication, administering incorrect dosages, or failing to recognize dangerous drug interactions. In some cases, patients may be given medications they are allergic to, leading to severe reactions.

Medication errors can be caused by simple mistakes, such as misreading a prescription, or more complex issues like inadequate training or poor communication among medical staff. Regardless of the cause, these errors can be life-threatening and require immediate legal attention.

In Greenwood, we’ve seen cases where patients were given incorrect medications due to miscommunication between doctors and pharmacists or due to a failure to review the patient’s medical history properly. If you suspect that a medication error has caused harm, it’s important to seek legal advice quickly.

Birth Injuries

Birth injuries can be one of the most heartbreaking and devastating types of medical malpractice. Childbirth is a complex and delicate process, but it can also present risks to both the mother and the child. While some birth injuries are unavoidable, others are the result of medical negligence. For instance, if a doctor or nurse fails to respond to signs of fetal distress in a timely manner, it can lead to serious complications such as brain damage or physical disabilities.

In Greenwood, birth injuries may occur due to delayed C-sections, improper use of forceps or vacuums, failure to monitor fetal heart rates, or not recognizing the signs of an umbilical cord problem. Birth injuries can lead to lifelong physical and mental disabilities for the child, and the emotional toll on the family is often significant. Medical professionals must carefully follow established protocols during childbirth, and any failure to do so can lead to a lawsuit.

Anesthesia Errors

Anesthesia is used during many procedures to keep patients comfortable and pain-free. However, mistakes related to anesthesia can be dangerous or even fatal. Anesthesia errors can happen during the administration or monitoring of anesthesia, leading to complications like brain damage, heart failure, or even death.

Common mistakes include administering too much or too little anesthesia, failing to monitor vital signs during surgery, or not properly assessing a patient’s medical history before administering anesthesia. Anesthesia errors are serious and can cause lifelong disabilities or even death. Greenwood patients who experience anesthesia-related complications should seek legal counsel immediately.

Failure to Obtain Informed Consent

Informed consent is a critical part of the medical treatment process. Before undergoing a procedure or treatment, patients must be fully informed about the risks, benefits, and possible complications. If a healthcare provider fails to properly explain the risks of a treatment or procedure, the patient may not have all the information necessary to make an informed decision.

Failure to obtain informed consent can lead to a medical malpractice claim if the patient suffers harm as a result of a treatment they didn’t fully understand or agree to. This can happen in a variety of settings, from elective surgeries to treatments for serious illnesses. Greenwood residents who believe their informed consent rights were violated should reach out to a medical malpractice lawyer to explore their legal options.

Failure to Monitor Patients

Monitoring patients after procedures, surgeries, or during hospital stays is an essential part of patient care. Failure to monitor a patient’s vital signs, lab results, or post-operative conditions can lead to severe complications, including infection, stroke, or heart failure. Hospitals and clinics have protocols in place to ensure that patients are continuously monitored, especially after undergoing high-risk treatments or procedures.

When healthcare providers fail to adequately monitor patients, the results can be catastrophic. In Greenwood, this type of medical malpractice is often seen in emergency rooms or intensive care units, where patients require continuous attention. If you or a loved one has suffered due to inadequate monitoring, you may have a valid malpractice case.

When Medicine Fails, Justice Doesn’t Have To — Talk to a Medical Malpractice Lawyer in Greenwood

Navigating the aftermath of a medical mistake can be overwhelming, but you don’t have to face it alone. At Brown, Bass & Jeter, we are dedicated to helping victims of medical negligence seek justice and fair compensation for their injuries. If you believe you’ve been harmed by a healthcare provider’s error, our medical malpractice lawyer is ready to evaluate your case and fight for your rights. Call us today at (601) 327-4024 to schedule your free consultation and take the first step toward holding the responsible parties accountable.