The Most Common Ways Hospital Accidents Happen

When a person walks into a hospital, they are probably under the general assumption that they are in the best of hands when it comes to receiving proper medical care. Most people perceive the doctor’s office as a place where they can ultimately find relief from their symptoms or conditions. Sadly, this is not always the case as hospital accidents can, and do happen every year in the United States. It is estimated that more than two hundred thousand people per year pass away due to medical errors. This means, that perhaps many of these patients may still be alive if not for a mistake or oversight being committed on behalf of the hospital.

The last thing any patient expects to happen is to have a worsened or newly developed condition due to a medical accident. In the article to follow, we have talked further about hospital errors and what you can do if this ever happens to you or a loved one.

What are the most common ways hospital accidents happen?

When hospital errors are committed, these mistakes may either be small or large. But in most cases, no matter how big the oversight, the patient can suffer a worsened health as a result. The most common ways hospital accidents occur can include:

1. Medication Prescription or Dosage Errors
2. Excessive Blood Transfusions
3. Hospital-Related Infections
4. Poor Anesthesia Monitoring
5. Operating on the Wrong Body Part
6. Surgical Materials Left Inside Body
7. Allergies to Prescribed Medication
8. Faulty Breast Exams
9. Misdiagnosis or Failure to Diagnose

What should I do if I believe I suffered a hospital accident?

If you suspect a medical error has happened to you at the hands of a doctor or medical staff, consider consulting with a legal professional immediately. Depending on how severe the mistake, you may have suffered much discomfort, pain and financial losses. An attorney can meet with you, evaluate your situation, and help advise you on how to proceed next.

What if I want to sue the hospital for the mistake?

Filing a lawsuit against the medical establishment may be an option for you, depending on the circumstances surrounding the accident. When making an appointment with a medical malpractice attorney Phoenix, AZ trusts, you can ask what types of paperwork will be useful for your consultation. But in general, it is best to bring along any documents you have about the medical mistake, so an attorney can do a thorough examination of what’s going on. Examples of helpful information to gather can include:

• Witness contact information of those who have heard conversations between you and doctors, surgeons or other medical staff members
• Current out-of-pocket expenses and outstanding medical debts related to the faulty treatment or procedure
• Printed copies of emails or letter exchanges between you and the doctor(s) tending to your condition or illness
• Waivers or contracts you signed prior to, or after surgeries
• Copies of doctor’s evaluations, diagnosis, treatment plans and testing
• Any other documents that support or help prove that the medical accident occurred

Thank you to our friends and contributors at Rispoli Law, PLLC for their insight into malpractice and hospital accidents.