Top Five Medical Errors Our Nashville Malpractice Attorneys See The Most

9/10/2018 Medical Malpractice John Whitfield

The nature of medical work places a huge responsibility on doctors and other healthcare providers. When a person becomes a physician, they accept this responsibility and swear an oath to uphold certain standards of care. This allows patients to put trust in their doctors to help them heal when they are sick or injured. Unfortunately, there are instances when this trust is shattered. As Nashville medical malpractice attorneys, Whitfield Bryson LLP sees a number of victims of medical errors.

With decades of combined experience, our malpractice lawyers have identified five of the top medical errors commonly experienced by patients:

1. Prescription drug adverse events – There are many important considerations that must be made before prescribing a patient medication. Certain drugs can cause severe reactions when taken with other medications and some drugs cannot be taken if a patient has certain preexisting medical conditions. It is very important for healthcare facilities to take a detailed medical history to determine whether or not a medication will harm a patient. Once a medication has been prescribed, facilities also have to make sure the dosage is administered correctly. Over or under dosing can have fatal consequences for patients.
2. Hospital acquired infections – Hospitals naturally have more bacteria and viruses present than other places. This doesn’t mean, however, that hospitals can allow patients to acquire infections in the hospital. All healthcare facilities are required to meet sanitation standards. If hospitals fail to properly clean facilities and equipment, they can put patients at risk for deadly infections.
3. Falls – Most people would be surprised to learn how common falls in hospitals and other healthcare facilities are. Patients who are immobile or partially immobile must rely on staff to help them move. Because of this, hospitals should have transportation protocols and equipment in place to aid in moving patients, but many of them choose to ignore these protocols and tools in favor of cutting costs. One major cause of falls is a medical facility not having enough staff members available to help move an individual.
4. Birth injuries – While childbirth is usually a joyous time, it is also an extremely vulnerable time for the both the mother and the child. In less than a second, lives could be changed forever. Many children that suffer birth injuries suffer permanent damage requiring a lifetime of medical care. For mothers, medical errors during childbirth could cause injuries that prevent further pregnancies or even cause death.
5. Misdiagnosis or failure to diagnose – The first step in any treatment is identifying the problem. With advances in medical technology, physicians have many resources and tests at their disposal to help properly diagnose patients. Unfortunately, they don’t always get it right. Negligent misdiagnosis can be caused by doctor inattention, not ordering the proper tests, or failing to analyze test results. When a physician negligently fails to diagnose a condition, it can lead to deadly consequences.

Medical Malpractice Cases In Nashville

Doctors and hospitals rarely admit mistakes. This means when a patient is injured as a result of malpractice, it can be difficult for them and their loved ones to find out what really happened and what went wrong. Patients deserve answers and justice. If you suspect you were a victim of medical malpractice, a Nashville malpractice lawyer can help investigate your injury, collect and analyze medical records, and engage experts to help determine liability.

Nashville Medical Malpractice Lawyers

If you or a loved one suffered an injury because of a medical error, contact the Nashville medical malpractice lawyers at Whitfield Bryson LLP today. We offer free consultations and we only work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you won’t owe us anything unless we help you recover compensation.