Common Examples of Medical Negligence
Medical negligence is a concern for many people all over South Africa, and in all cases where it occurs, the victim has the right to be compensated for their losses or difficulties.
Claims don’t always happen, however, and this can be attributed to a lack of understanding of what actually constitutes medical negligence. This results in victims being left in difficult positions where they are no longer able to earn an income, support a family, or live with an acceptable quality of life. A good benchmark with which to look at medical malpractice would be to ascertain whether a reasonably skillful, competent doctor would not have made the same mistake under the same circumstances
If you feel that you have been the victim of medical negligence and are looking for legal assistance you should contact an attorney for advice.
Below are a few examples of negligence in the medical field.
- Misdiagnosis leading to damages
Misdiagnosis of severe illness is one of the most common forms of medical negligence, and it can have serious consequences for the patient and his or her family. The wrong diagnosis, or a correct one that comes too late, means that the victim will either receive improper treatment or no treatment.
- Errors with regard to medication
Errors with regard to medication are one of the more common instances of medical malpractice, and these errors can occur in a multitude of ways. For example, a doctor might make a mistake regarding an initial prescription or administer drugs inappropriately or irresponsibly. Within a hospital or pharmacy environment, a typical type of grievance results from the incorrect dosage of medication or medication being given to the wrong patient.
- Negligence relating to childbirth and prenatal care
Mistakes made during pregnancy, childbirth, or in the early stages of child development can result in lifelong consequences. These types of injuries may include brain, eye, bone, nerve, and limb control issues, all of which will lower the quality of an infant’s life, right through to adulthood. Furthermore, this might put strain on the lives and finances of their parents. Prematurely born babies are prone to complications, however, this is why such treatment is all the more important to prevent conditions such as Cerebral Palsy (CP), Periventricular Leukomalacia (PVL), Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE), and Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP). Cases of untreated jaundice or Rhesus (blood type) incompatibility can also lead to disability or infertility. Prenatal injuries may also affect the mother, leading to further illnesses and complications.
- Mistakes during treatment, surgery, and aftercare
Surgeons may make mistakes on the operating table, and when they do, it constitutes negligence whenever a complication should and could have been reasonably avoided. This could include issues during the operation (such as incorrect procedures or surgical tools being left in the body), or could even surface as post-operational complications, such as not taking the appropriate care to avoid and treat infections or medical conditions.
- Mistakes relating to anesthesia
These types of errors can lead to permanent disability, brain damage, and even death. They generally occur as the result of not having the patient’s medical history checked thoroughly enough, not informing them of the possible risks, not monitoring and reacting to a patient’s vital signs, or administering the incorrect dosage.
Paul du Plessis Attorneys
Paul du Plessis Attorneys provide specialized medico-legal services to clients who have suffered an injury at the hands of another. Contact us for all medical negligence enquiries.