By pursuing a career in health care, doctors and nurses commit themselves to a high standard of care for all their patients. While medical professionals are allowed to make mistakes every once in a while, deliberate recklessness is unacceptable, and should be punished by a medical malpractice suit. Here are a few quick examples of health care provider negligence.
Failure to diagnose
Medical professional go through years of training in order to learn how to spot and diagnose well-known ailments. If your doctor fails to diagnose an ailment that any other doctor could identify, he is liable for the consequences of his negligence. An obvious misdiagnosis is another form of neglect that can lead to unnecessary medical bills or even death.
Birth injury
Though doctors are not responsible for the presence of birth defects, they are responsible for unnecessary injuries that occur during the birthing process. If an attending physician’s actions result in oxygen deprivation, for example, the infant could end up with cerebral palsy—a lifetime condition that affects the child’s motor skills.
Surgical errors
Even routine surgeries come with a degree of risk. Though it’s unfair to expect to surgeons to perform 100 percent of surgeries successfully, they should always provide a reasonable level of care. Removing the wrong kidney, for example, is unacceptable and should be met with swift legal action.
Medication errors
Since there are thousands of prescription medications, many doctors have trouble keeping them straight. Still, each and every doctor has a duty to thoroughly research each drug before prescribing it. If you or a loved one becomes ill due to a medication error, you may have a valid medical malpractice claim.
Famous Medical Malpractice Cases
Thoughts of celebrities tend to bring to mind the high life—we imagine them eating the finest foods, traveling in style, and receiving the best possible healthcare. While most of these perceptions are fairly accurate, celebrities are often subject to the same negligent doctors as the rest of us. Here are a few of the most famous medical malpractice cases:
- Julie Andrews’ throat operation: Since the 1960s, Julie Andrews has dazzled millions with her charm and outstanding singing performances in The Sound of Music, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Mary Poppins, and other classics. However, when she went under the knife in 1997 to have non-cancerous nodules removed from her throat, her singing career was unexpectedly cut short. She filed a medical malpractice suit against the hospital and received a settlement in 2000.
- Dana Carvey’s heart surgery: Known for playing “Garth” in the hit comedy Wayne’s World and for his hilarious portrayal of George H.W. Bush on Saturday Night Live, Dana Carvey has kept Americans laughing for decades. However, no one was laughing when Dana’s heart surgeon bypassed the wrong artery in 1997. Mr. Carvey sued the hospital for medical malpractice and ended up donating the $7.5 million settlement to charity.
- Michael Jackson’s drug poisoning: Perhaps the most jarring celebrity medical malpractice case in recent years involved the late Michael Jackson. In 2009, Jackson’s personal doctor was accused of administering the pop star with a slew of powerful pain drugs, which eventually led to his death. The doctor, Dr. Conrad Murray, was sentenced to four years in prison last November.
It’s important to note that not all medical mistakes are considered malpractice. Still, it doesn’t hurt to contact The Rich Firm, PC whenever a medical mistake affects you or a loved one. Our skilled Washington DC attorneys will fiercely defend your interests against irresponsible health care providers both in court and at the negotiation table. Call us today at 1-888- RICH-LAW (742-4529) to schedule your free consultation with one of our experienced medical malpractice lawyers.
