When we visit a doctor or hospital, we expect competent and professional care. However, medical malpractice in Georgia is more common than many realize, leading to severe injuries, long-term complications, and even wrongful death.
Negligence in the medical field can result in misdiagnosis, surgical mistakes, medication errors, and more, leaving victims and their families struggling to cope with the aftermath.
If you or a loved one has been harmed by a medical professional’s negligence, you may have grounds for a medical malpractice claim. Understanding the most common medical malpractice cases can help determine whether your injury resulted from avoidable mistakes.
At the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm, we fight aggressively for victims of medical negligence to ensure they receive the justice and compensation they deserve.
1. Misdiagnosis or Delayed Diagnosis
A misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis can mean the difference between life and death. Patients rely on doctors to identify health conditions accurately, but when a physician fails to recognize the symptoms of a serious illness, the consequences can be catastrophic.
Misdiagnosed patients may receive incorrect treatments, delay essential care, or experience the worsening of their condition.
How Diagnostic Errors Happen
Doctors and hospitals may be held liable if their negligence leads to a wrong or delayed diagnosis. Some of the most common causes include:
- Failure to order the appropriate medical tests to confirm or rule out a condition.
- Ignoring or dismissing a patient’s symptoms, leading to a missed diagnosis.
- Misreading lab results, MRIs, CT scans, or X-rays, resulting in incorrect conclusions.
- Failure to refer a patient to a specialist for further evaluation.
- Mixing up patient records, leading to incorrect treatments or medications.
The Consequences of Misdiagnosis
- Cancer Misdiagnosis: Delayed treatment reduces survival chances and leads to more aggressive procedures.
- Heart Attack Misdiagnosis: Patients may be sent home with minor treatment while their condition worsens.
- Stroke Misdiagnosis: A failure to recognize stroke symptoms can lead to permanent brain damage.
At the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm, we aggressively pursue justice for medical malpractice victims and ensure negligent doctors are held accountable.
2. Surgical Errors and Wrong-Site Surgeries
Surgical procedures require precision, skill, and extreme caution to ensure patient safety and successful outcomes. However, when medical professionals act negligently, the consequences can be life-threatening or even fatal.
Surgical errors are one of the top medical negligence claims, leading to severe injuries, post-operative infections, internal organ damage, and permanent disabilities. Even one small mistake during surgery can change a patient’s life forever, resulting in lifelong medical complications and ongoing treatment costs.
While patients trust surgeons to perform procedures with the utmost care, many surgical mistakes occur due to negligence, miscommunication, or lack of proper preparation. In many cases, hospitals fail to enforce safety protocols, increasing the likelihood of preventable surgical mistakes.
Common Causes of Surgical Errors
Surgical errors occur due to various factors, including lack of communication, inexperience, and failure to follow safety procedures. Understanding these causes can help determine whether medical negligence played a role in a patient’s injury.
Miscommunication Among Medical Staff
When surgeons, nurses, and anesthesiologists fail to communicate effectively, critical mistakes can occur. This may include:
- Mixing up patient charts, leading to wrong-site or unnecessary surgeries.
- Failure to confirm allergies or medical history, increasing the risk of complications.
- Lack of proper handoff procedures, causing confusion between shifts or surgical teams.
Fatigue and Overworked Surgeons
Many surgeons work long hours under high-pressure conditions, leading to:
- Reduced focus and concentration, increasing the risk of mistakes.
- Delayed reaction times, making it harder to correct errors during surgery.
- Poor decision-making, which can cause life-threatening complications.
Types of Surgical Mistakes
There are several types of surgical errors, ranging from life-threatening mistakes to minor procedural oversights.
Major Surgical Errors
- Wrong-site surgeries – Operating on the wrong body part due to medical chart errors.
- Leaving surgical instruments inside a patient, leading to severe infections.
- Anesthesia errors, causing brain damage, oxygen deprivation, or death.
- Performing the wrong surgery, leading to unnecessary complications.
- Failure to properly sterilize equipment, increasing the risk of infection.
Minor Surgical Errors
- Improper suturing, leading to wounds reopening.
- Failure to monitor vital signs properly during or after surgery.
- Using defective surgical tools that malfunction during the procedure.
At the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm, we work with medical experts, investigators, and top legal professionals to build a strong case against negligent surgeons, hospitals, and healthcare providers. We understand the devastating impact of surgical errors and are committed to helping victims recover maximum compensation for their pain, suffering, and financial losses.
If you have been affected by a surgical mistake, our medical malpractice law firm is ready to fight for you.
3. Medication and Prescription Errors
Prescription drugs play a vital role in managing health conditions, alleviating pain, and promoting recovery. However, when healthcare professionals make mistakes in prescribing, dispensing, or administering medications, the results can be catastrophic or even fatal.
Medication errors are one of the most common medical malpractice cases, affecting thousands of patients each year due to negligence, miscommunication, or improper procedures.
Patients rely on doctors, nurses, and pharmacists to ensure their medications are safe and effective. However, even a small mistake—such as administering the wrong drug or incorrect dosage—can cause severe allergic reactions, organ failure, or life-threatening complications.
If you or a loved one has suffered due to a prescription or medication error, you may have a valid claim for medical negligence.
How Medication Errors Occur
Medication errors can happen at any stage of the treatment process, from the moment a doctor prescribes a drug to when a patient receives their medication.
Doctor and Prescription Errors
- Prescribing the wrong medication due to misdiagnosis or medical chart confusion.
- Failure to check a patient’s allergies, leading to severe allergic reactions.
- Incorrect dosage instructions, causing underdosing or overdosing.
- Not considering drug interactions, resulting in dangerous side effects.
Pharmacist and Dispensing Errors
- Misreading a doctor’s handwriting, leading to incorrect medication being dispensed.
- Filling the wrong prescription due to similar drug names.
- Providing incorrect dosage amounts, causing medication toxicity.
Hospital and Nursing Errors
- Administering the wrong medication to patients due to mislabeling.
- Giving medication at incorrect intervals, reducing effectiveness or increasing risk.
- Failure to monitor patients after medication is administered, leading to missed side effects.
4. Birth Injuries and Delivery Room Negligence
Bringing a baby into the world should be a joyful experience, but medical errors during labor and delivery can result in permanent disabilities for the child and mother. Birth injuries are one of the most devastating forms of medical malpractice in Georgia, often leading to lifelong complications and expensive medical care.
Types of Birth Injuries Caused by Medical Negligence
- Cerebral Palsy: This condition is often caused by a lack of oxygen to the baby’s brain during labor or delivery. It can result in permanent movement disorders, muscle stiffness, and developmental delays.
- Erb’s Palsy: Excessive pulling on a baby’s shoulders during delivery can damage the brachial plexus nerves. This may lead to weakness, limited mobility, or even paralysis in the affected arm.
- Brain Damage: Failure to monitor fetal distress or delay in performing a necessary C-section can cause severe brain injuries. This can lead to intellectual disabilities, memory problems, or seizure disorders.
- Spinal Cord Injuries: Excessive force, improper handling, or the misuse of delivery tools can damage a newborn’s spinal cord. This may lead to partial or complete paralysis and lifelong mobility challenges.
- Fractures: Improper use of forceps or vacuum extractors during a difficult delivery can result in broken bones. The most commonly fractured bones include the collarbone and skull, which can cause significant pain and complications.
- Maternal Injuries: Medical negligence during labor and delivery can lead to severe complications for the mother. These may include excessive bleeding, infections, or internal injuries requiring additional surgeries.
- Facial Nerve Damage: Pressure on a baby’s face during delivery can cause nerve damage, leading to temporary or permanent facial paralysis. This can affect feeding, breathing, and facial muscle development.
- Brachial Plexus Injuries: Damage to the network of nerves controlling the baby’s arms and shoulders can lead to weakness or complete loss of function. In severe cases, this injury may require surgery and physical therapy.
At the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm, we fight for families affected by birth injuries and ensure doctors and hospitals are held accountable.
5. Failure to Obtain Informed Consent
Doctors must fully inform patients about the risks and potential complications of medical procedures before proceeding. If a patient is not properly informed and something goes wrong, they may have a valid medical malpractice claim.
What Informed Consent Means
- Doctors must explain all risks and possible complications before treatment.
- Patients must be given the opportunity to ask questions and understand alternatives.
- A signed consent form is required, but verbal explanations are also necessary.
- If a doctor fails to disclose key risks, they may be held liable.
- Emergency exceptions exist, but in most cases, consent is required.
At the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm, we ensure patients’ rights are protected when they are not given proper medical information before a procedure.
Take Action Today – Get the Compensation You Deserve
Medical malpractice victims shouldn’t have to suffer alone. If you or a loved one has been harmed by negligent medical care, you deserve justice and financial compensation.
At the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm, our experienced legal team fights aggressively to hold negligent healthcare providers accountable. We understand the challenges of medical malpractice cases, and we are here to guide you through every step of the process.
Why Choose the CEO Lawyer?
- Proven track record of winning medical malpractice cases.
- Aggressive legal representation against hospitals and insurance companies.
- No upfront fees – You don’t pay unless we win.
- Dedicated to maximizing compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Contact us today at (833) ALI-AWAD for a free consultation. Let us fight for you while you focus on your recovery!
