Medical malpractice can occur in a number of ways. A victim may be subjected to a doctor’s failure to diagnose, a medical professional may commit a surgical error, or a doctor may perform medical treatment that goes beyond the consent given by the patient. In all of these situations, an unsuspecting patient can be left with serious injuries that can leave him or her permanently disabled, suffering from a worsened medical condition, or, in the worst cases, dead. This is why those who are negligent in the Massachusetts medical profession need to be held liable for their actions, which may mean pursuing a lawsuit against them and their employers.
In addition to the types of medical negligence discussed above, an individual may have a foundation for a legal claim when a medication error occurs. According to the FDA, a medication error occurs when a patient is harmed after being given inappropriate medication by a medical professional. This inappropriateness can include being given the wrong medication or being given an improper dosage. Medication errors are wholly preventable.
To see just how big an issue medication errors can be, one need only look at a page on the FDA’s website. There, one can see that the government is constantly trying to rename medications to avoid confusion, and relabel drugs to ensure dosage clarity. Yet, when a medication error occurs, one need not turn to the FDA, as the blame still lies with the medical professional who made the injurious mistake.
Medical malpractice can turn one’s life upside-down. A victim may face significant physical harm, emotional trauma, and financial losses. Having the ability to recover compensation for these damages is another reasons why pursuing legal action is often in these victims’ best interests. Those who want to learn more about how to file such a lawsuit can speak with an experienced Massachusetts hospital negligence attorney.
Source: FDA, “Medication Errors Related to Drugs,” accessed on June 2, 2017
