What is it?
Doctors, nurses and other caregivers are required to follow certain standard procedures in diagnosing and treating patients. If a doctor fails to meet that standard of care, and a misdiagnosis or surgical error results in injury or death to the patient, the caregiver can be held legally and financially liable.
What causes it?
Misdiagnosis and surgical errors can occur in the emergency room, during a birth, a scheduled surgery, or in the doctor’s office either due to carelessness, lack of training, exhaustion, or simple error.
Misdiagnosis – Your doctor may fail to test for breast, colon, prostrate, or other cancer despite visible symptoms. In the emergency room, heart attacks or meningitis sometimes go undiagnosed. A misdiagnosis of a medical condition could result in an unnecessary surgery or failure to perform a necessary procedure in a timely manner.
Surgical errors – Surgeries can result in a myriad of errors that can cause injury or death, including:
- Failure to properly monitor vital signs
- Anesthesia overdose
- Improper surgical procedures
- Operating on the wrong body part
- Leaving sponges or instruments in body
- Sliced nerves or blood vessels due to scalpel slippage
At Jacobs & Goodman:
- You always get an attorney, never a case manager like at other firms.
- We take a personal interest in your case, and help you through every aspect, including helping you deal with medical leins and debts.
- We work on a contingency basis, which means if we don’t win your case, you don’t pay.
If you think you or a loved one been the victim of misdiagnosis or surgical error, contact us to schedule a free consultation.