From Medical Errors to Misdiagnosis: What Patients Want to Know About Various Types of Medical Malpractice Claims

When people learn that our firm is specialized in medical malpractice in Philadelphia and Scranton, they often want to know about the various types of medical malpractice claims (also referred to as medical negligence claims). Of course it would be impossible to examine all possible medical malpractice claims. Below is a sampling of fairly common medical malpractice claims that our medical malpractice lawyers in Philadelphia and Scranton often encounter.  

 Misdiagnosis 

Healthcare providers often misdiagnose patients, which could lead to death. For example, a woman may come to the emergency room with symptoms of nausea and fatigue. The poorly-informed doctor incorrectly concludes that she’s suffering from menstrual issues or indigestion. The doctor prescribes some antacid and/or a painkiller. In fact, the woman was suffering a heart attack. When women suffer heart attacks, they don’t have the same symptoms as men suffering heart attacks. Most doctors only know the typical male symptoms and often misdiagnose women, leading to serious cardiac injury or death.

Delayed diagnosis

There are many medical conditions that require prompt intervention by healthcare professionals. For example, when a patient is suffering a stroke, time is of the essence. A stroke is when blood supply to the brain is interrupted or reduced. This is an urgent medical issue and requires a timely diagnosis. Sometimes medical staff will mistake a stroke for a migraine and prescribe pain killers. Unfortunately, during a stroke, every minute that passes is a minute that the brain is losing precious oxygen. And if the proper diagnosis is delayed for too long, the person could suffer brain damage, disability, and even death.  

Birth injuries

Another type of medical negligence claim that our medical malpractice attorneys in Philadelphia and Scranton handle frequently is birth injury. These cases focus on the injuries a child could suffer during childbirth. There are often medical issues that arise for the mother of the child as well. Types of birth injury include:

• placental abruption – when the placenta separates from the uterine wall before the baby is delivered, depriving the baby of vital nutrients and oxygen
• uterine rupture – when the uterus tears and the baby slips into the mother’s abdomen, leading to severe bleeding for the mother and suffocation for the baby
• umbilical cord prolapse – when the umbilical cord (known as the baby’s “lifeline”) drops through the open cervix before the baby is delivered, denying oxygen to the baby
• nuchal cord – when the umbilical cord wraps around the baby’s neck, obstructing blood and oxygen flow to the baby 
• meconium aspiration – when the baby inhales a tar-like substance (known as the baby’s first stool); left untreated, this could be fatal to the baby

There are several other examples of birth injury. For a complete list, see this article <hyperlink to What Are the Most Common Birth Injuries?>.

If you believe you have suffered a medical injury and would like to explore whether what you experienced constitutes medical malpractice, contact the experienced medical malpractice lawyers at VSCP Law.