Medical malpractice is a term that is heard quite often. However, its meaning is sometimes swayed. Medical malpractice occurs when a medical professional, who holds a PhD in their title, harms a patient. Examples of this ‘harm’ is misdiagnosing, birth injuries, neglect, misreading lab results, issuing improper medication, poor aftercare, premature discharge, or failure to recognize symptoms. While doctors are people and they do make mistakes, sometimes these mistakes can cause people their lives. We breakdown those number in this medical malpractice infographic.
In order for a Medical malpractice case to make it far in the courts, the pain, suffering, and sometimes medical bills, has to outweigh the cost of going to court. Like other court cases, it is ultimately the judge and jury who decides if the doctor committed medical malpractice. However, it is most common that these cases get settled outside of the courtroom.
The most common forms of medical malpractice that make it to court are misdiagnosis and birth injuries. These two forms of medical malpractice happen very often because of the continuous outside circumstances. Misdiagnosis can happen very easily. A ton a sicknesses have very similar symptoms, and you can not always test for everything. Birth injuries are very common because every mother’s body and every baby is different.
Check out this infographic with information from 2016, showing the numbers behind medical malpractice cases in California. If you have questions about medical malpractice, or want to start a case, give us a call! 209-900-8200
