Research suggests that one in five patients experience a medical error. This could explain why 55 percent of 4,000 medical professionals across more than 25 specialties surveyed admitted that they had been sued. Half of those who had been sued also claimed it was not the first time they faced more than one lawsuit.
Louisiana obstetrics, gynecologists and surgeons were those most likely to be sued. Each field accounted for 85 percent of medical malpractice lawsuits. This could be because birth trauma has the potential to limit the life of a child, even before it has begun and is especially difficult for parents. A recent medical malpractice case illustrates this as the lawsuit claims the 11-year-old child has been left disabled after a series of medical errors during his 2007 birth.
According to the lawsuit, the clinical staff did not monitor and deliver the child in a timely manner, leading to oxygen deprivation. As a result, he suffered permanent brain damage that has led to spastic quadriplegia and cortical blindness, and left the child unable to take care of himself.
The complaint itself limits dozens of medical mistakes, from failing to recognize troubling signs to preventing further injuries to the child. In fact, the survey mentioned that the most common medical mistakes included the failure to diagnose a medical condition and poor disease progression.
The amount of damages in the lawsuit mentioned above claims more than $75,000 in damages, but in reality, damages can exceed that amount. Additional procedures to rectify the situation or ongoing medical care can amount to millions in damages in some instances and need to be considered when pursuing a medical malpractice lawsuit. Victims of medical negligence might want to consider consulting an experienced attorney for guidance on how to proceed.
