Why Have Medical Errors Leading to Death Increased in Recent Times?

Even with advanced medical technology, highly trained medical professionals and a plethora of resources, the American healthcare system is far from perfect. Each year, an estimated 100,000 to 200,000 people lose their lives due to medical errors. How could this be?

Despite having access to cutting-edge medical care and facilities, many patients are treated by overworked and overwhelmed doctors, nurses and other medical professionals. These medical professionals are often forced to work physically and mentally-taxing schedules, which can lead to burnout and mistakes.

There are also logistical, diagnostic and communication shortfalls that can result in patients failing to receive potentially life-saving care.

While workplace burnout can affect anyone, it can be hugely dangerous and consequential in the medical field where there is very little room for error.

If a physician’s burnout is the reason behind your injuries or illness, get in touch with a skilled medical malpractice attorney who can evaluate your unique situation and see if you have a case. Your health should never be compromised because of preventable medical errors.

What Is Medical Malpractice?

Medical malpractice happens when someone suffers injuries, illness or death because of a medical professional’s failure to provide adequate medical care or treatment.

Medical malpractice doesn’t just happen at the hands of a physician or surgeon. Other medical professionals – like nurses, emergency medical technicians, chiropractors, physical therapists and pharmacists – can also make mistakes that lead to patient injuries or deaths.

Medical malpractice can manifest in several different ways. Some of the more common medical malpractice examples include:

• Surgical errors
• Misdiagnosis
• Improper treatment
• Pharmaceutical errors (providing incorrect dosage guidelines or dispensing wrong medication)
• Premature patient discharge
• Misinterpreting lab results
• No follow-up or aftercare
• Neglecting or ignoring patient history
• Anesthesia errors
• Failure to obtain the correct blood type for a transfusion

What Malpractice Is Not

Negligence is at the core of each medical malpractice case. As a plaintiff, you’ll have to prove your doctor failed to provide the level of care any other doctor would have exercised under similar circumstances. 

For instance, if your family member died of cancer, but their oncologist did everything in their power to save them, including various cancer treatments, a medical malpractice claim would more than likely fail. Although the doctor wasn’t able to save your relative, their actions wouldn’t be considered negligent.

How Can I Prove Medical Malpractice in Georgia?

To prove medical malpractice, your case will have to meet certain irrefutable criteria:

• You and your doctor had a professional relationship: You’ll need to show you were seen by this person and you paid them for their care.
• The medical professional (doctor, nurse, pharmacist) owed you a duty of care—a degree of care that any prudent medical professional working in the same field would exercise.
• The duty of care was breached because of the medical professional’s failure to provide the expected care.
• The negligence led to your subsequent illness or injury.
• Because of the injury, you’ve experienced considerable pain and suffering as well as financial damage.

Should I Hire a Medical Malpractice Lawyer to Help Me with My Case?

Hiring a medical malpractice lawyer isn’t a requirement for filing a claim but having legal representation from a skilled attorney may significantly increase your chances of recovering damages.

An experienced medical malpractice attorney will have the legal knowledge and skills to handle your case. He or she can help you gather the necessary evidence and use their investigatory and negotiation skills to reach a fair settlement.



Speak with an Experienced Medical Malpractice Attorney in Atlanta

At ATL Elite, we help Georgia residents find top-rated personal injury lawyers in the Atlanta metro area. If you’re looking for a lawyer with a proven track record in handling medical malpractice and other personal injury cases, consider reaching out to one of our recommended Atlanta attorneys.