There are three types of medical malpractice that can be addressed in a medical malpractice suit, as noted by the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys (ABPLA). Medical malpractice is generally defined as an act of negligence on the part of a doctor or medical professional that results in harm, a failure to heal, or in extreme cases the death of a patient. For it to be considered for a liability suit, the incident must include the following three attributes:

•      The standard of care was not met. An example of a standard care violation could include a professional’s failure to wear gloves or wash his hands;
•      A patient was injured in the course of negligent care. It is not enough for a patient to claim that the professional did not provide care that met his or her expectations, but the he or she suffered at the hands of a professional;
•      The injury sustained in the course of care must have significant detriments or lasting effects. The ABPLA notes that patients would do well to remember that if the injury sustained was somewhat insignificant, it could end up costing more to pursue the suit than care for the injury itself.

The ABPLA lists several examples of medical malpractice. Failure to diagnosis, misreading lab results, poor aftercare, improper medication or dosage, and a failure to either order proper testing or recognize symptoms are all examples of medical malpractice.

According to Medical News Today, the most common form of medical malpractice is misdiagnosis. In fact, a team of researchers at Johns Hopkins University reported in 2013 that “diagnosis errors cause up to 160,000 deaths annually in the USA.” This cost doctors nationwide a staggering $38.8 billion in payments to patients between 1986 and 2010.

Medication errors are also a common form of medical malpractice. A University of Illinois report stated that blood thinners are the most common type of medication errors—accounting for seven percent of such cases for all hospitalized patients.

If you or someone you know suspects you have been the victim of medical malpractice in Connecticut, the most important step is to seek legal counsel. Contact Richard H. Raphael, Attorney at Law today.