Surgical procedures typically involve an element of pain. While some pain is expected, medical negligence during surgery can lead to additional, unexpected pain. It is reasonable to question whether your surgery was conducted properly if you are not getting the answers you deserve about post-surgical pain. If your doctor does not have a reasonable explanation for your pain, or if it persists longer than it should, you may be the victim of surgical malpractice.
The medical profession is not known for openly acknowledging mistakes. Patients may be ignored, even while suffering debilitating pain, if the cause is medical negligence. Many patients are forced to get a second opinion to discover what happened. Many victims of malpractice never discover the cause of their problems.
Medical errors are now considered the third leading cause of death in the United States. Despite the death toll, few victims receive compensation for the harm done to them. Victims and their families face an uphill battle in discovering the truth and asserting their rights.
3 examples of medical negligence
Let’s take a look at some of the more common forms of medical negligence:
Fall injuries: Hospitals need to do certain things to ensure that patients don’t slip out of bed, or slip when trying to go to the bathroom and in other circumstances. Did you know that 1 million Americans slip and fall in hospitals every year, and the hospitals involved could have prevented a third of those incidents?
Misuse of antibiotics: Over half the patients in hospitals are taking antibiotics. In 50 percent of these instances, the patients don’t need to take them, or patients receive a prescription for the wrong medicine. Overuse of antibiotics can have the opposite effect intended and make patients more vulnerable to dangerous and deadly infections. Improperly prescribed antibiotics can also result in bad reactions and allergic complications.
Confusing medications: Doctors and nurses are helping so many patients at the same time that they sometimes give the wrong medication to a patient. This can result in serious contraindications, severe reactions and injuries. According to a study by Harvard, 1,000 medication mix-ups happen in hospitals on a daily basis.
How to stop medical negligence
Medical negligence is never going to disappear completely. However, when the victims of medical negligence stand up for their rights by pursuing claims in court, they send a strong message to medical providers that American consumers will not put up with dangerous medical mistakes. If you have suffered an injury due to a negligent doctor or medical facility, you may be able to seek financial compensation in court. Contact a Chicago medical malpractice lawyer today for more information.