Harmful Errors with 6 Routine Medical Procedures
Medical malpractice laws aim to help injured patients get their lives back and recover from the losses they suffer at the hands of a health care provider. To do so, you must prove that the physician deviated from the standard of care under Florida’s medical negligence statute. The standard is measured by what a hypothetical doctor with the same level of skill, training, and education would have done under the circumstances.
Some of the most egregious medical malpractice claims involve objects left in the patient after surgery, failure to diagnose cancer, and operating on the wrong body part. However, many people overlook the dangers associated with routine medical procedures. These may affect you, since most individuals will receive this care at some point during their lifetimes. You should discuss your circumstances with a Tampa medical malpractice attorney if you have concerns about harm from these Top 6 routine medical procedures that cause harm to patients.
- Scopes: A scope involves inserting a miniscule tube, equipped with a tiny camera, into a part of the body. The purpose is for health care providers to view tissues or organs through minimally invasive means, since the insertion site is extremely small when the procedure is complete. Physicians may be negligent by using too much pressure, causing trauma or punctures to internal organs.
- Injections: You get shots starting from birth, and most do not lead to any adverse events. However, when health care providers do not use proper sanitation and hygiene practices, the patient can suffer infection. Some are easily treated, but other infections cause a life-threatening condition called sepsis.
- Punctures: A puncture is similar to an injection, except that health care providers break the skin for different reasons. Getting a spinal tap is one procedure that requires a puncture, and infection from unsanitary equipment is once again the biggest threat.
- Biopsies: When physicians want to thoroughly examine bodily tissues outside the body, they will often conduct a biopsy to remove the specimen. This procedure is invasive, so scalpels and other sharp tools may lead to injuries if mishandled. Slicing into the tissue could even cut into an adjacent organ.
- Tube Insertion: Medical professionals may insert a tube into the mouth and/or nose to ease the flow of air, or to drain blood or other fluids. Improper pressure or placement of the tube can cause serious trauma to the esophagus and lungs.
- Imaging: CT scans, MRIs, X-rays, and other imaging tests rely on radiation to produce results, so patients are exposed to high levels when going through screenings. Without proper protection and policies, a patient could suffer burns or radiation poisoning.
Contact a Florida Medical Malpractice Lawyer About Your Options
You may have legal remedies if you suffered harm because of these routine medical procedures, so please contact Greco & Wozniak P.A. to learn more about them. You can set up a no-cost case review at our offices in Tampa, FL by calling 813.223.7849 or visiting our website. After assessing your situation, a medical malpractice attorney will explain next steps in the process.
Source:
leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0700-0799/0766/Sections/0766.102.html
