Medical Specialist Errors
When we see medical specialists, such as radiologists, cardiologists, or neurologists, we expect that they will use all their skill and knowledge to pinpoint our condition and improve it, when possible. Unfortunately, sometimes even these highly-trained doctors make mistakes, even in the emergency room. Preventable medical errors kill and injure hundreds of thousands of people across the U.S. every year.
Like all other doctors, specialists are required to use a particular “standard of care” with their patients. This means that their diagnostic and treatment process must be in accordance with the community standards of other reasonably competent specialists in their field. If they fail to adhere to these standards and their patients are injured as a result, they can be held legally responsible.
Common Types of Specialist Errors
Specialists can make mistakes in numerous ways. Among the most common are:
- Failure to diagnose a condition
- Failure to read a test result properly (e.g., X-rays, CT scans, MRI results, etc.)
- Failure to order a necessary test
- Misdiagnosis of a condition
- Inadequate treatment of a condition
- Unnecessary treatment of a condition (e.g., overmedication)
- Mixing up test results with another patient
- Poor communication with patient about medical history
- Poor communication with other treating doctors and medical providers
These errors may come to light through physician admission or through painstaking investigation by experienced professionals after the fact.
Injuries that May Result from Specialist Errors
Mistakes made by specialists can result in devastating injuries, from the aggravation of an already present condition (such as cancer) to the creation of a new condition. Some examples include:
- Heart failure
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Cancer metastasis
- Tumor growth
- Internal bleeding
- Chronic pain
- Mental anguish
- Coma
- Death
How can a Massachusetts medical malpractice lawyer help you?
If you believe that you or a loved one suffered an injury due to medical specialist error, it’s a smart idea to contact an experienced medical malpractice lawyer as soon as possible. A knowledgeable lawyer can conduct a thorough investigation into your medical experience, obtain relevant medical records, and sometimes interview witnesses before crucial evidence slips away.
If your case has merit, you may be able to obtain compensatory damages for medical and hospital expenses, lost of income and earning capacity, pain and suffering. loss of companionship and other claims. In wrongful death cases, punitive damages may also be awarded if gross negligence is demonstrated.
Peter Ventura is a Massachusetts medical malpractice lawyer dedicated to helping people in the Massachusetts area recover compensation for medical specialist injuries. Call for a free consultation today at 508-755-7535 or contact us online.
