When you trust your health to medical professionals, you expect to receive the best care possible. Unfortunately, medical mistakes happen far too often and have been recognized as a serious public health problem, reported as the third leading cause of death in the United States. One study reported that approximately 400,000 hospitalized patients experience some preventable harm each year, while another study estimated that over 200,000 patient deaths annually were due to preventable medical mistakes.

These staggering statistics highlight the critical need for awareness and preventative measures to ensure patient safety. These tragic incidents can devastate families, leaving them grappling with grief, anger, confusion, and a profound sense of injustice. Whether you’ve personally experienced such a loss or are seeking to protect yourself and your loved ones, understanding the seven most common medical mistakes is crucial.

With extensive experience in medical malpractice cases, a South Florida medical malpractice attorney from Cohen & Juda explains the seven most common medical mistakes that can result in wrongful death. Our goal is not to cause alarm but to provide you with valuable information. Understanding these potential mistakes in medical care can help you become a more informed and effective advocate for your health and that of your loved ones.

While this information may be difficult to confront, it’s a powerful tool in preventing future tragedies and ensuring better healthcare outcomes. If you suspect that a loved one’s death may have been due to a medical mistake, this information can also help you understand your situation and potential next steps.

What is a Medical Mistake?

In the context of healthcare, a medical mistake is an error or omission made by a healthcare provider that deviates from the accepted standard of care and results in harm to the patient. A healthcare provider can be a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or any other professional involved in the delivery of medical care.

These mistakes can occur at any stage of patient care, from diagnosis to treatment, and even during post-operative care. They can happen in various settings, including hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and even at home under the guidance of medical professionals. Medical mistakes are often preventable and can lead to severe harm or even death. When such mistakes occur, they may be grounds for a wrongful death claim.

Next, let’s delve into some of the most common medical mistakes, starting with misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis.

1. Misdiagnosis or Delayed Diagnosis

One of the most common and potentially devastating medical mistakes is misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis. This occurs when a healthcare provider fails to recognize and correctly diagnose a serious condition in a timely manner. In South Florida’s busy hospitals and clinics, the pressure to see many patients quickly can sometimes lead to rushed examinations and overlooked symptoms.

You might experience this mistake if your doctor dismisses your concerns or fails to order appropriate tests. For example, a patient complaining of chest pain might be sent home with a diagnosis of indigestion, only to suffer a fatal heart attack hours later. Similarly, early-stage cancer symptoms could be mistaken for a less serious condition, allowing the disease to progress to an untreatable stage.

How to Advocate for Accurate Diagnosis

• Be persistent about your symptoms
• Seek a second opinion if concerns aren’t addressed
• Keep detailed records of medical visits and condition changes

2. Medication Mistakes

Medication mistakes are another leading cause of wrongful death in medical settings. These mistakes can occur at various stages: prescribing, dispensing, or administering medication. In South Florida’s diverse healthcare landscape, from large hospitals to small clinics, the potential for such errors exists at every level.

You might encounter this type of mistake if you’re given the wrong medication, the wrong dosage, or if there’s a failure to account for drug interactions. For instance, a nurse might administer ten times the prescribed dose of a medication due to a misplaced decimal point. Or a doctor might prescribe a medication without checking for potential interactions with your current prescriptions.

Safeguarding Against Medication Mistakes

• Double-check prescriptions
• Discuss potential side effects and interactions with providers
• Maintain an up-to-date medication list, including over-the-counter drugs

3. Surgical Mistakes

Surgical mistakes, while less common, can have catastrophic consequences. These mistakes can range from operating on the wrong body part to leaving surgical instruments inside the patient. In South Florida’s many hospitals and surgical centers, the fast-paced environment can sometimes contribute to these errors.

You or a loved one might experience a surgical mistake if the wrong procedure is performed, if there’s damage to surrounding organs during surgery, or if post-operative care is inadequate. For example, a surgeon might nick an artery during a routine procedure, leading to internal bleeding that goes unnoticed until it’s too late.

Ensuring Your Surgical Safety

• Understand your procedure
• Verify details with your surgical team
• Report unusual post-surgery symptoms immediately

4. Anesthesia Mistakes

Anesthesia mistakes are particularly dangerous because they can lead to severe brain damage or death. These mistakes can occur due to improper dosing, failure to monitor the patient, or adverse reactions to the anesthesia. In South Florida’s medical facilities, where many elective surgeries are performed, anesthesia errors can turn routine procedures into tragedies.

You might encounter an anesthesia mistake if you experience an allergic reaction that wasn’t anticipated, if you’re given too much anesthesia, or if your vital signs aren’t properly monitored during surgery. For instance, a failure to recognize and respond to dropping oxygen levels could result in brain damage or death.

Protecting Yourself During Anesthesia

• Provide complete medical history to your anesthesiologist
• Discuss previous reactions and current medications
• Ask about the anesthesia process and monitoring

5. Hospital-Acquired Infections

Hospital-acquired infections, also known as nosocomial infections, are a significant cause of wrongful death, particularly in South Florida where the warm, humid climate can foster bacterial growth. These infections occur when patients contract a new infection during their hospital stay, often due to inadequate sanitation practices or compromised immune systems.

You or a loved one might fall victim to a hospital-acquired infection if proper hand hygiene isn’t followed by healthcare staff, if medical equipment isn’t properly sterilized, or if there’s inadequate cleaning of hospital rooms and surfaces. For example, a patient recovering from surgery might contract MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) due to contaminated surfaces or unwashed hands.

Minimizing Infection Risks in Hospitals

• Ensure healthcare providers practice proper hand hygiene
• Follow hygiene protocols when visiting
• Report signs of infection immediately

6. Birth Injuries

Birth injuries are a tragic form of medical mistake that can result in the death of an infant or mother. In South Florida’s busy maternity wards, where multiple births may be happening simultaneously, the risk of such errors can increase. These injuries often occur due to improper use of delivery tools, delayed C-sections, or failure to monitor fetal distress.

You might encounter this type of error if your healthcare provider doesn’t respond quickly enough to signs of fetal distress, uses excessive force with forceps or vacuum extractors, or fails to perform a timely C-section when necessary. For instance, a doctor might delay a C-section despite clear signs of fetal distress, leading to oxygen deprivation and potential brain damage or death of the infant. In other cases, excessive force during delivery might cause severe injuries to the mother, potentially leading to fatal complications.

Protecting Mother and Child During Childbirth

• Discuss your birth plan thoroughly with your provider
• Have an advocate present during labor
• Speak up immediately if something feels wrong

7. Failure to Provide Adequate Follow-Up Care

Neglecting to provide proper follow-up care after treatment or surgery can lead to complications that, if left unaddressed, can become fatal. This issue is particularly prevalent in South Florida’s busy healthcare system, where patients might be discharged quickly to free up hospital beds.

You might experience this type of mistake if you’re sent home without clear instructions for post-operative care, if follow-up appointments aren’t scheduled or are significantly delayed, or if your concerns after discharge are dismissed. For example, a patient who’s undergone major surgery might be discharged without proper wound care instructions, leading to an infection that goes unnoticed until it becomes life-threatening. Or a patient with a chronic condition might not receive timely follow-up, allowing their condition to worsen to a critical state.

Ensuring Proper Post-Treatment Care

• Understand discharge instructions thoroughly
• Schedule follow-up appointments before leaving
• Keep a recovery journal and report concerns promptly

Though there are other types of medical mistakes that can lead to harm or death, these seven represent some of the most common causes of wrongful death in South Florida’s healthcare system. While this information may be unsettling, it’s crucial to remember that knowledge is your best defense. By staying informed, asking questions, and advocating for yourself and your loved ones, you can play an active role in preventing these tragic mistakes.

However, if you suspect that a family member has been a victim of a medical mistake causing wrongful death, it’s essential to seek legal guidance as soon as possible. The complexities of medical malpractice cases require the assistance of skilled and experienced wrongful death lawyers in Florida to advocate on your behalf.

Find Support and Guidance After a Suspected Wrongful Death

If you suspect that a loved one’s death may have been due to a medical mistake, you don’t have to navigate this difficult journey alone. At Cohen & Juda, we’ve been helping South Florida clients since 1999 with all types of injury and accident cases, including wrongful death due to medical mistakes.

Our highly experienced Florida wrongful death lawyers, Harvey Cohen and Gary Juda, understand the profound grief and confusion you’re experiencing. We’re here to listen to your story and provide the guidance you need. We offer free consultations and work on a contingency basis, meaning there are no attorney fees or costs unless we win your case. Our team is available seven days a week and we take cases throughout Florida and the U.S., relentlessly and aggressively working for you on behalf of your loved one.

Even if you already have a lawyer, we’re happy to provide a second opinion on your case. Contact Cohen & Juda today at (954) 424-1440 or visit our website to fill out our confidential online form. Let us shoulder the legal burden while you focus on healing and honoring your loved one’s memory.

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The information in this blog post (post) is provided for general informational purposes only and may not reflect the current law in your jurisdiction. No information in this post should be construed as legal advice from the individual author or the law firm, nor is it intended to be a substitute for legal counsel on any subject matter. No reader of this post should act or refrain from acting based on any information included in or accessible through this post without seeking the appropriate legal or other professional advice on the particular facts and circumstances at issue from a lawyer licensed in the recipient’s state, country, or other appropriate licensing jurisdiction.

Cohen and Juda P.A.
8211 W Broward Blvd, Suite 310
Plantation, FL 33324
(954) 424-1440
https://www.cohenandjudaflorida.com/