What are the Consequences of Medical Malpractice?

If you or someone you know has been the victim of medical malpractice, you aren’t alone. Each year, adults across the country are injured or killed by medical negligence. Visiting the doctor’s office is supposed to be a hopeful experience that results in you feeling better, not worse. Unfortunately, for many Americans, medical care isn’t always as effective or as appropriate as it should be. In fact, each year 225,000 people are killed due to medical errors and malpractice in the United States.

Medical malpractice mistakes can lead to minor problems, such as pain or adverse reactions. However, in some cases, medical errors and mistakes can have long-term and even deadly consequences. It’s important to seek assistance from an attorney promptly if you believe you have been the victim of bad medical care. This will ensure that you are able to move forward from the situation and get the help you need. Here are some potential consequences when doctors make mistakes.

1. Unnecessary surgery

If you are incorrectly diagnosed or a physician fails to diagnose your illness promptly, you may have to undergo surgery that otherwise could have been avoided. Surgery carries many risks, including a heightened chance of developing a serious infection or other harms. If a surgery is performed unnecessarily due to medical errors, you may be more likely to experience long-term pain and additional problems as a result of the operation.

2. Birth Injuries

While not all birth defects are preventable, it’s important to understand that if a doctor or care team make a mistake during pregnancy or delivery, the baby can be injured. Dislocated shoulders, broken bones, and extreme bruising are symptoms of medical malpractice during birth. However, more serious injuries, such as brain trauma, are also possible. The consequences of medical errors during birth can last a lifetime.

3. Worsening symptoms

If a doctor does not properly evaluate your medical condition and treat you appropriately, your symptoms can worsen. When that occurs, managing your symptoms may become nearly impossible without additional, more drastic treatment. Similarly, if a medical lab makes a mistake that results in a wrong diagnosis, the true cause of your symptoms remains unknown, appropriate treatment won’t be provided, and your symptoms will not improve. In some cases, you might receive inappropriate or unnecessary medication from your physician. The wrong medicine can cause physical side effects and consequences that can hurt you.

4. Chronic pain

No one likes the idea of being in pain. It’s your body’s way to tell you something is wrong. After all, you probably visited the doctor in the first place to find relief from your pain. You didn’t expect to walk away with even more problems. Medical malpractice can leave you with chronic pain that, in turn, causes a variety of additional problems, including fatigue, depression, and anxiety. Chronic pain symptoms may involve muscles, joints, nerves, internal organs, and headaches.

5. Lost wages

Perhaps one of the most obvious problems associated with medical malpractice is lost wages. If you are ill and receive the wrong medical care, your symptoms may continue or even worsen. This can result in missed time from work. In some cases, you may actually lose your job. Lost income is one of the biggest economic problems associated with medical malpractice, as this can cause extreme financial hardship for many patients and their families.

If you believe you or someone you love has been the victim of medical malpractice, reach out to an attorney today.