When patients receive substandard care from doctors or other medical professionals, they can suffer serious harm. While medical malpractice can take many forms, misdiagnosis is one of the most common issues that affect patients in the United States. An incorrect diagnosis, a delayed diagnosis, or a failure to diagnose a serious medical condition can result in a patient not receiving the proper medical care within the right time frame. In cases involving misdiagnosis of cancer or other serious illnesses, the failure to receive timely treatment may result in a person’s wrongful death. By understanding the reasons that misdiagnoses may occur, victims of medical negligence can ensure that their injuries and damages will be addressed properly.

Causes of Misdiagnosis

There are many issues that can increase the likelihood that a patient will not receive the correct diagnosis. When medical providers do not follow standard practices or otherwise fail to provide patients with adequate care and consideration, a misdiagnosis may be considered to be medical negligence. Some common ways that negligence by doctors or staff members can lead to an incorrect diagnosis include:

• Lack of experience - While doctors may rely on their experience providing treatment for patients as they recognize different symptoms and make a diagnosis, they should also be aware of gaps in their knowledge and cases where they may need assistance from other professionals. A doctor’s failure to refer a patient to another provider that would provide a better understanding of their condition may lead to an incorrect or delayed diagnosis.

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In Illinois and across the country, nursing homes are seeing a rising number of residents suffer injuries and health problems due to medication errors. Families who cannot properly care for their elderly loved ones on their own often rely on nursing homes and other long-term care facilities to properly and compassionately attend to them instead. When their loved one’s health fails due to negligent or abusive care, it is critical to work with legal professionals who can represent your loved one’s case. 

What Are The Dangers of Medication Errors?

It is very common for nursing home residents to take prescription medication. Unfortunately, nursing homes are notoriously understaffed, and this is a leading cause of medication errors in long-term care facilities. Commonly occurring errors include providing the resident with expired medications, administering the wrong dosage of medication, and neglecting to monitor the resident following administration.

When mistakes occur during medication administration to a nursing home resident, serious and sometimes fatal consequences can arise. An individual who suffers a medication error may experience unexpected medical complications, reduced immune response, malnutrition and dehydration, and organ failure. Medication errors can also lead to fatalities.

 Birth injuries can be extremely frightening for new parents and their loved ones. Some birth injuries can lead to lifelong conditions, such as cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy has no cure. Many children with this condition require treatment the rest of their lives. In some cases, medical malpractice during childbirth plays a critical role in causing cerebral palsy and other lifelong conditions.

What is Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral palsy is most often caused before birth and typically affects movement and muscle tone or posture. It is a result of damage sustained by a developing and immature brain. The effects of cerebral palsy can range greatly from person to person, however, all individuals with cerebral palsy will have the condition their entire lives. 

Cerebral palsy (CP) can also occur at the time of birth or in early infancy. In some cases, CP may cause an individual to have difficulty swallowing or walking. Others may experience eye muscle imbalance and muscle stiffness. Many other symptoms may arise, such as epilepsy and blindness. 

When welcoming a baby into the world, most parents’ highest priority is to ensure their infant’s health. Every day, new parents trust medical professionals to assist in delivering their children safely. When this trust is broken, an infant or mother can suffer great harm with lasting effects. 

Causes and Consequences of Birth Injuries

Birth injuries are often a result of untreated illnesses or physical harm before, during, or immediately after childbirth. This type of injury most frequently occurs when the infant is above average size, the infant is born prematurely, or the infant is not head-first in the birth canal. Even tools used by doctors during labor, such as forceps or vacuums, can cause birth injuries. Physical and intellectual impairment, including blindness or deafness, difficulty learning, inability to move one part of the body, issues with communicating effectively, and excessive sleepiness, may result from birth injuries.

Serious injuries sustained during the childbirth process can lead to short-term and long-term conditions that may require life-long treatment for a child, including:

Every day, people across the country are being provided medications by licensed physicians. Unfortunately, sometimes these medications are incorrect. In some cases, the wrong type of medication is provided, while in other cases, the doctor provides an incorrect dosage or makes other dangerous mistakes. Medication errors arise from a variety of situations and consequences suffered by the patient can range from harmless to fatal. If you or a loved one’s injury or illness was caused by a medication error arising from a medical professional’s negligence,a medication injury attorney can help you understand your legal options.

Common Causes of Medication Errors

Healthcare professionals regularly prescribe and administer medications to their patients. Patients who suffer from medical problems, both minor and severe, often depend on these medications to be comfortable. When medical professionals fail to consider the numerous factors involved in properly prescribing and administering these drugs, the patient can suffer serious and possibly fatal harm. 

There are some medication errors that occur more frequently than others, including: