Medical Malpractice

Medical Malpractice: The Dangers of Unnecessary Surgical Procedures

Published on: September 5, 2019 | By Van Sant Law

Uneccesary surgery medical malpractice claims

Having surgery can be frightening and stressful, but learning that you endured a painful, expensive, and unnecessary procedure can be even more distressing. Unfortunately, unnecessary surgery is a shockingly common type of medical malpractice.

While not every instance of an unnecessary surgical procedure is grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit, if your surgeon or another member of your surgical team was negligent, you may be entitled to compensation. Here’s what you should know.

After undergoing an unneeded surgery, victims often wonder how something like this could happen. Some of the most common negligence-related reasons unnecessary operations are performed include:

Pap Smear Errors Can Have Serious Consequences

Published on: August 20, 2019 | By Van Sant Law

pap smear errors and medical malpractice Pap smears are an essential part of women’s reproductive healthcare. Using cells collected from the cervix, these gynecological tests screen for abnormalities that could indicate cervical cancer and are often combined with a test to detect the cancer-causing human papillomavirus.

Doctors recommend that women between the ages of 21 and 65 have a pap smear, also known as a pap test, every three years.

With the possibility for a life-shattering cancer diagnosis on the line, it’s vital for medical professionals to

Diagnostic Errors Are Common Types of Medical Malpractice

Published on: August 20, 2019 | By Van Sant Law

malpractice due to diagnostic errors Not only are diagnostic errors one of the most prevalent types of medical malpractice, but they’re also one of the most frequent reasons for malpractice settlements and financial awards. Medical errors affect an estimated 12 million Americans each year, according to the Society to Improve Diagnosis in Medicine, and can be extremely harmful or even deadly for victims.

Some of the most common diagnosis-related medical errors include:

Missed diagnosis. The doctor gives a patient a clean bill of health, failing to diagnose a serious illness or medical condition.

Common Causes of Medical Malpractice

Published on: June 11, 2019 | By Van Sant Law

Surgeons, dentists, general practitioners, specialists, and other medical professionals are required to provide patients with a quality standard of care. Though not all poor health outcomes are the result of providers deviating from an accepted standard of care, many are.

In fact, a recent study from Johns Hopkins found that medical mistakes are the third leading cause of death in the United States, after heart disease and cancer.

What is a medical malpractice claim? In the event of a poor outcome, doctors and other medical personnel are judged based on what a competent medical professional with a comparable background would have done in similar circumstances. If providers with related training and experience wouldn’t have made the same mistake in this situation, the patient—or surviving family members—may have grounds for a medical malpractice claim.

Atlanta, Georgia Medical Malpractice Lawyer – Nursing Errors

Published on: March 20, 2019 | By Van Sant Law

Nurses play an extremely important role in the medical field. Nurses are responsible for providing the bulk of routine care in hospitals and nursing homes, from administering medications to monitoring patient vital signs. Nurse practitioners and nurse midwifes may also conduct exams, deliver babies, provide patient education and otherwise fill roles that many people believe are traditionally within the purview of medical doctors.

Because nurses play such an important role in providing patient care, it is essential that they are well-trained and that they perform their duties with a reasonable degree of care. When a nurse makes a mistake or fails to act with competence, it can have serious consequences on a patient’s health or on the outcome of a patient’s treatment.

If you or a loved one suffered harm as a result of a nursing error, you may be able to take legal action. A medical malpractice claim can potentially be made against the nurse, as well as against the supervising physician and hospital or healthcare provider. An Atlanta medical malpractice attorney will help you to understand what your options are after a nursing error has occurred and will assist you in taking the necessary steps to get the compensation you deserve.

Atlanta Medical Errors are a Leading Cause of Death

Published on: March 20, 2019 | By Van Sant Law

Medical mistakes are now the third leading cause of deaths within the U.S., according to RT. While previous estimates have indicated medical errors were a top reason for fatalities within the United States, new research affirms that there are only two causes of death which occur more commonly than negligence on the part of medical care providers.

When medical mistakes turn out to be fatal, family members could be left with financial loss and with unspeakable grief. The family of victims killed by Atlanta medical malpractice can get help with a wrongful death claim from an experienced attorney in the Atlanta area.

If medical errors occur but turn out not to be fatal, victims can still be compensated for damages, provided they can show the doctor’s actions caused them to experience some type of compensable harm. It is best to get help as soon as possible if you wish to pursue a claim based on a medical mistake, as an attorney can help you begin gathering the evidence you will need to prove your case.

Atlanta, Georgia Medical Malpractice Lawyer – Pap Smear Errors

Published on: March 20, 2019 | By Van Sant Law

Recent guidelines suggest that women age 21 and over should undergo a pap smear screening every three years. Pap smears are intended to help identify cell changes that could be indicative of the Human Papillomavirus Virus (HPV) and that could potentially lead to the development of cervical cancer. Pap smears also help to identify other troubling abnormalities.

Unfortunately, while pap smears are widely viewed as a reliable diagnostic aid that has contributed to significantly reducing cervical cancer deaths, they are not infallible. A number of problems can develop including inaccurate diagnoses leading to unnecessary treatment or even delayed treatment due to missed signs of cancer or other health problems.

If pap smear errors were made that affected diagnosis and/or treatment of medical problems for you or for a loved one, you have legal options. The doctor or the laboratory that was responsible for the error may be considered liable for medical malpractice and made to pay damages for losses including medical bills, time missed from work and even pain and suffering and emotional distress. An Atlanta medical malpractice lawyer can help you to determine if your pap smear error gives rise to a medical malpractice claim.

Atlanta Medical Malpractice Can Sometimes Lead to Criminal Cases and Civil Lawsuits

Published on: March 20, 2019 | By Van Sant Law

This past July, a previously-respected doctor specializing in the treatment of cancer was sentenced to 45-years in prison. The physician was given this sentence because of misdiagnosing and mistreating patients. Misdiagnosis is one of the most common errors made by physicians and is a leading cause of medical malpractice claims. In this particular case, the misdiagnosis was criminal, because it was done on purpose to enrich the physician.

Most medical mistakes are negligent, but not necessarily a violation of the law. While no criminal charges are usually filed against a doctor who makes a careless error, victims affected by the doctor's negligence can move forward with a claim for compensation in a civil lawsuit. An Atlanta medical malpractice lawyer can assist plaintiffs in using the tort laws and civil court system to get their own version of justice by getting the compensation they need for injuries resulting from medical negligence.

Medical Negligence in Atlanta Can Lead to Civil Lawsuits & Sometimes Criminal Cases

Atlanta, Georgia Medical Malpractice Lawyers – Delayed Diagnosis

Published on: March 20, 2019 | By Van Sant Law

When you visit the doctor, you expect that your doctor will conduct an exam, listen to you on the symptoms you are having, and help you to get a broader picture of your health status. A visit to the doctor can be especially important when something may be wrong so you can get the help that you need to treat the problem. Unfortunately, doctors don't always diagnose you properly and sometimes they may miss major medical problems entirely.

When a doctor fails to diagnose a medical condition, this failure can have a serious impact on your health. In many cases, your condition may become worse by becoming more painful and/or more expensive or difficult to treat. In other cases, your condition may become life threatening or fatal as a result of your doctor's failure.

When a medical professional lets you down by failing to diagnose a medical problem, you may have legal recourse. Delayed diagnosis is a form of medical malpractice and an Atlanta medical malpractice lawyer can assist you in understanding your legal rights and any recourse you may have available to you.

Atlanta Medical Malpractice Cases Against Cardiologists

Published on: March 20, 2019 | By Van Sant Law

Cardiologists are medical care providers who focus on treating the heart and the blood vessels. Cardiologists have enormous responsibilities for patient care because a problem with the heart can turn deadly in a split second. Cardiologists are specialists, so may be held to a higher standard of care when it comes to diagnosing and treating heart conditions as compared with general practitioners.

When a cardiologist makes a mistake, this error can give rise to a claim for medical negligence. An Atlanta medical malpractice lawyer should be consulted by a victim of a cardiologist’s errors or by family members of those who are killed due to mistakes made by a cardiologist. An attorney can help you to hold the cardiologist accountable and seek fair compensation for losses.

Top Reasons for Atlanta Medical Malpractice Claims Against Cardiologists