When thinking about the amount of schooling that doctors and nurses must endure in order to practice, it’s hard not to trust them. However, it’s not unheard of for these professionals to fall below the standards of care, at the expense of their patients. Hospital errors can have detrimental effects on the victim of these cases. If you’re the victim of medical negligence that occurred in a hospital, contacting a Houston, Texas hospital error lawyer is essential to fighting for the justice you deserve.
How Do Hospital Errors Occur?
In most cases, hospital errors occur as a result of medical negligence or malpractice. Generally, healthcare professionals follow strict standards and guidelines for patient care. When these standards are not met, intentionally or not, it can result in medical errors.
If you were injured as the result of an honest mistake on behalf of the doctor, would be deemed medical negligence. However, if the doctor or nurse knew the risks associated with their actions and followed through regardless, it is considered malpractice.
Similarly, hospitals that are found to understaff shifts, hire incompetent doctors, or employ healthcare providers with a history of errors, can be responsible for any medical errors that occur.
What Are the Most Common Errors?
Unfortunately, there are a host of common hospital errors that occur when in the care of doctors and nurses.
One of the most frequent mistakes to occur is diagnosis errors. These happen when the professional responsible for your care fails to run all the necessary tests in order to diagnose your ailment with certainty. Similarly, if a doctor fails to diagnose an illness or injury that results in further harm, they can be held liable for a delayed diagnosis.
Also, errors commonly occur as a result of birthing injuries that can cause chronic issues for children. For example, failure to see and remedy issues on fetal heart monitors, improper use of instruments, and hypoxia are all examples of hospital errors that could impact the life of your child.
Finally, one of the most common errors is miscommunication. For many in the professional setting, miscommunication can be a minor inconvenience. However, failure to communicate with other healthcare professionals by charting notes can lead to medication errors, treatment errors, and further delays in treatment.
Should You Hire a Lawyer?
If you think you are the victim of a hospital error that has led to further injury or illness, you should contact a lawyer as soon as possible. In many instances, waiting too long to speak to an attorney can make it more challenging to prove your case.
Similarly, the Texas statute of limitations on medical malpractice cases is two years from the date the treatment or lack thereof, occurred.
Contacting Davis & Davis today can help you meet with an experienced attorney who will fight for you. Ensuring you bring the hospital errors to light helps prevent them from happening to countless more victims.
