Medical malpractice is a terrible experience for both doctors and patients. But while nobody wants to go through this ordeal, it is actually more common than many realize.
According to a report published by BMJ Open, researchers at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland found that delays in diagnoses and failure to diagnose were the most common type of malpractice claim. The diagnoses most frequently cited involved cancer and heart attacks in adults and meningitis and cancers in children. Mistaken diagnoses led to death in 15 to 48 percent of the cases analyzed in this study.
Drug errors represented the second most common source of medical malpractice claims. Many of the claims revolved around drugs such as steroids, anticoagulants, antibiotics, antipsychotics and antidepressants.
The researchers based their work on a review of data contained in 34 studies from the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and France regarding malpractice claims in primary care. Approximately one-third of the U.S. claims and about half of the U.K. cases resulted in financial compensation.
The study serves as a warning if you experience symptoms of a disease or a condition. Your doctor may not correctly diagnose your condition, meaning you should be proactive in your health care, attentive to your body and persistent with your physician.
Need Legal Help?
When you go to your doctor, you expect that your safety and health will be top priorities. However, if your physician overlooked signs of a serious condition, it’s natural to feel betrayed.
If you or a loved one has been injured due to the negligence of a doctor, hospital or other health care provider in South Carolina, our South Carolina injury attorneys can offer you advice about your rights. Call Joye Law Firm today at (888) 324-3100 or use our online form.
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