We count on our doctors and other medical professionals to help us. So, when they don’t do their jobs correctly and they make mistakes that cause harm, it’s devastating. If that happens to you, you might be entitled to compensation for medical malpractice. This can include compensation for your medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, loss of love and companionship, and other losses related to the harm the medical professional caused.
Not every mistake a healthcare worker makes is necessarily medical malpractice. But doctors, other healthcare workers, and hospitals have to perform their jobs according to professional standards of care. If they are negligent or their work falls below those standards, then they may have committed medical malpractice.
There are many kinds of medical malpractice. These are five of the most common:
- Misdiagnosis
If a doctor misses an obvious diagnosis, that may be malpractice.
- Medication errors
You have a right to be given or prescribed the correct medication at the correct dose for your condition. Medical mistakes, such as giving medication to the wrong patient in a hospital or writing a prescription that has the wrong dosage, could be malpractice.
- Mistakes made during childbirth
You have a right to a correctly performed delivery procedure under the circumstances of your particular situation. Sadly, negligent medical errors made during delivery can cause serious injuries to the baby, including brain damage, bone fractures, or spinal cord injuries.
- Mistakes made during surgery
You have a right to surgery that is free of blatant errors. Negligent errors made during surgery run the gamut from operations performed on the wrong side of the body to medical instruments or sponges being left inside the patient.
- Failure to treat
Malpractice may occur not only if healthcare workers do something wrong, but also if they fail to do something they should have done. This includes failure to provide treatment after a correct diagnosis, discharging a patient from a hospital too early, or failing to correctly follow-up on treatment.
If You Suspect Medical Malpractice, Don’t Wait to Talk to an Attorney
In Wisconsin, there are strict deadlines, called “statutes of limitations,” for when you can file a malpractice lawsuit. In general, you must file within three years of the time of the injury or harm, but there are exceptions. In some situations, you may have more time to file, but in other situations you will have less, so it’s important to talk to an attorney right away.
GCW is Here to Help
Medical malpractice cases are complicated and stressful. Our team is dedicated to helping you or your loved one get back on track, or in the case of death, helping the survivors get a just result. Contact us for a free consultation.
