The average adult in Georgia visits their doctor four times each year. During these visits, a patient may talk about chronic health concerns or acute illnesses that suddenly arise. While most people receive the necessary medical help they need to feel better, many people don’t. If you have an adverse medical reaction because of your doctor, you may wonder if you can sue them.
What is medical malpractice?
Medical malpractice is a term used to describe when a doctor or other medical professional is negligent when providing medical care to their patient, and it results in a medical error. A doctor may be in a rush and not listen to all of a patient’s symptoms, which could result in an incorrect diagnosis. A doctor could also have mixed up a prescription dosage, which may cause an adverse reaction.
Common causes of medical malpractice suits
Patients who have had an adverse outcome due to medical malpractice may consider suing their doctor. This can help change policies in the medical office or hospital to prevent future mistakes and can help a patient get the care they need. Some common causes of medical malpractice suits include:
- Incorrect or unnecessary surgery
- Not following safety protocol or procedures
- Not following up with a patient
- Leaving a surgical device in a patient following surgery
- Not explaining or documenting instructions to patients
- Prescribing the wrong medication or the wrong dosage
- Failure to properly treat a medical condition
Getting help after experiencing a medical injury
If you or a loved one has experienced a medical injury or had an adverse medical effect due to the negligence of your doctor, it can be frustrating to get the help you need. Filing a medical malpractice suit may be in your best interest to help you get the damages you need to get better and to prevent others from incurring the same treatment.