Medical malpractice can significantly negatively affect the lives of patients and their families. Knowing the most common types of medical malpractice can help you spot potential claims. The following list shows the main types of medical malpractice you should know:
Types of medical malpractice
- Misdiagnosis or failure to diagnose: A doctor may miss a condition that a reasonable doctor would have found, possibly making the patient’s condition worse and needing more treatment.
- Surgical errors: These range from operating on the wrong patient or body part to leaving tools inside the patient. Problems after surgery due to carelessness also fit here.
- Medication errors: Doctors may give the wrong medicine or amount or miss dangerous drug interactions. These mistakes can cause serious harm or even death.
- Birth injuries: Mistakes during pregnancy, labor or delivery can cause serious injuries like cerebral palsy or other long-term health problems for newborns. Wrong use of medical tools or not watching the baby’s condition often causes these injuries.
- Anesthesia errors: Anesthesiologists may give the wrong amount of anesthesia or not watch the patient well, possibly causing brain damage or death.
- Failure to treat: A doctor may diagnose the right condition but fail to give proper care, leading to harm. This can happen due to oversight or neglect.
These common types of medical malpractice can help you spot potential claims.
The statute of limitations for medical malpractice in Missouri says you must file your lawsuit within two years of the act of neglect. But there are exceptions for cases with foreign objects left in the body or failure to tell patients about medical test results.
Missouri’s statute of limitations also lets minors under 18 file a lawsuit until their 20th birthday.
Spotting common types of medical malpractice and knowing the legal steps can help you seek justice and payment for harm suffered. Consider asking legal counsel if you have concerns or need more guidance.