Overlooked doctor malpractice forms

Each year, about 44,000 to 98,000 deaths in hospitals are attributed to preventable medical errors commonly known as medical or doctor malpractice. Doctor malpractice comes in many different forms. There are cases that are very obvious, while a number of them require a more careful examination.

There are three forms of medical or doctor malpractice that are usually entirely overlooked:

• Birth injury;
• Dental negligence; and
• Medication errors.

Birth Injury

Birth injury, or birth trauma, is a common, and also very traumatic, form of doctor malpractice. Often this has caused many families to silently suffer rather than seek legal advice. Birth injuries happen when a fetus suffers injury during the labor and delivery process. Statistics show that six out of every 1,000 live births in the United States each year are traumatic.

Many of the birth injuries that occur each year are the result of preventable accidents. These include baby slipping out of a nurse's grip or rolling from a hospital bassinet.

In many cases an improperly done routine procedure such as a cesarean section is the cause of birth injury. In others, fetal injury may be the result of the doctor or nurse's failure to appropriately respond to signs of fetal distress.

Regardless of the incident, birth injuries due to medical malpractice have the potential to cause your child a lifelong illness or a permanent disability and are a very serious occurrence. If you believe a family member has suffered from a birth injury contact an experienced attorney immediately in order to secure the necessary funds to cover your child's medical expenses.

Dental negligence

Dental negligence occurs when a dentist or oral surgeon fails to provide the proper standard of care and causes injury to a patient.

Common injuries caused by dental negligence include:

• failure to detect gum disease;
• permanent/temporary nerve damage to the lingual or inferior alveolar nerves;
• improper use of dental instruments; and
• improper or unnecessary treatments.

Usually these injuries are the result of what should be a routine procedure, such as a root canal or the removal of impacted wisdom teeth. Many cases of dental negligence go unreported every year.

Consult a medical lawyer in your area if you have suffered unduly because of dental negligence.

Medication errors

Medication errors affect at least 1.5 million people each year, making it among the most common medical errors in the United States. Each year, about 7,000 deaths are attributable to medication errors.

The most common medication errors involve incorrect dosage, prescribing the wrong drug and using an incorrect method of administration, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

It is also common for health practitioners to make mistakes as a result of not knowing enough about a patients' medical history (allergies, current medications, previous treatments). Lastly, the miscommunication of drug orders also plays a role in medication error.

If you feel you or a loved may have suffered from birth injury, dental negligence, medication error or any other form of medical or doctor malpractice, see a medical malpractice attorney immediately. Usually a medical or doctor malpractice claim will include compensation for your pain and suffering, as well as payment to cover incurred medical expenses because of the doctor malpractice.