The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) claims that medical malpractice is the third-leading cause of death in the United States. Unfortunately, many victims do not receive just compensation because the lines between what is medical malpractice and what is not are often blurred. However, there are a few things that do indicate it is time to visit medical malpractice lawyers in Plainfield.
Surgical Errors
Surgical errors are very common, and can involve everything from performing the wrong procedure to injuring a patient during surgery. Some people have even received a procedure that was intended for someone else and suffered undue complications as a result.
Complications from Anesthesia
When anesthesia is not administered properly, you may experience a condition known as anesthesia awareness. With anesthesia awareness, you are partially awake and are fully aware of your surroundings. At the same time you may be unable to speak and cannot tell physicians if you are experiencing pain. Mental trauma may later ensue when the memories of what happened during surgery come back to haunt you.
Failure to Diagnose
Doctors often fail to diagnose diseases in a timely manner. As a result, your condition might progress more rapidly, requiring additional care and leading to even greater pain and suffering. A failure to diagnose in the early stages is common with certain types of cancer but also happens with diabetes, heart disease and other conditions.
Informed Consent Violation
An informed consent violation can occur when doctors fail to properly advise you as to the risks of certain procedures. This is especially true when the withheld information might have swayed your decision in the opposite direction.
Statutes of limitations apply on all medical malpractice cases. As soon as you suspect foul play, contact Block, Klukas, Manzella and Shell, our medical malpractice lawyers in Plainfield.
