5 Common California Medical Malpractice Claims

Have you or someone you love ever visited a doctor or hospital, only to leave feeling worse than when you arrived? Medical professionals are entrusted with our health, but what happens when that trust is broken due to negligence?

In California, a state known for its bustling healthcare system, medical malpractice is an all-too-common issue. From birth injuries to surgical errors, countless patients experience harm due to preventable mistakes.

Let’s dive into the five most common types of medical malpractice claims in California and what they mean for those affected.

1. Birth Injury Claims

Birth injuries can cause long-term consequences for both mothers and babies. These claims involve harm sustained during pregnancy, labor, delivery, or postpartum care. While childbirth is often a joyous occasion, medical errors can result in devastating injuries like bruising, fractures, or even hypoxia (lack of oxygen).

Real-life example:

A mother experienced complications during delivery because her doctor failed to recognize signs of fetal distress. Improper use of forceps caused nerve damage to her baby, and the child was forced to undergo months of rehabilitation while the family suffered emotionally.

Medical professionals are trained to respond to potential risks during childbirth, but when they fail to do so, they may be held accountable for the resulting injuries.

2. Failure to Treat or Diagnose Claims

A failed diagnosis or treatment of illness may leave the patient in a worse state than when it first presented itself for seeking care. This is a sort of malpractice where symptoms are either overlooked or have been misinterpreted by doctors, resulting in no further treatment or improper treatment.

Examples of failure to treat include:

• Discharging a hospital patient too early.
• Failure to consider important medical history when administrating medication.
• Failure to order appropriate medical tests.

Real-life example:

A man went to his local ER with persistent chest pain. The attending physician dismissed it as acid reflux without ordering tests. Days later, he suffered a heart attack that could have been prevented with proper diagnosis.

Doctors are held to a standard of care, and neglecting symptoms or rushing treatment decisions can have life-altering consequences.

3. Misdiagnosis or Delayed Diagnosis Claims

Misdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis can lead to unnecessary treatments or missed opportunities for effective care. A misdiagnosis occurs when a doctor incorrectly identifies a patient’s condition, while a delayed diagnosis means the correct diagnosis comes too late to make a difference.

Real-life example:

One female presented with early signs of breast cancer and was wrongly diagnosed to have a benign cyst. When the mistake was eventually corrected, the cancer was at an advanced stage to be treated with much harsh treatment, thus drastically altering the prognosis.

This area presents one of the most horrible errors because, at that moment, diagnosis could turn the difference between life and death.

4. Prescription Medication Error Claims

Prescription medication errors are very common forms of malpractice. These can manifest through the prescription of medication in error, administration in wrong dosages, or non-compliance with potential adverse effects of drug interactions.

Real-life example:

An elderly lady was prescribed a medication incompatible with her other prescriptions such that she suffered severe hemorrhaging. A simple study of her medical history might have prevented the potentially life-threatening error.

Prescription errors not only compromise the safety of patients but also lead to serious health complications that are completely preventable.

5. Surgical Errors Malpractice Claims

Surgery is risky by nature, but when medical practitioners commit preventable mistakes, the results can be disastrous. Surgical errors include operating on the wrong body part, failure to remove surgical instruments from the patient, or failure to maintain hygiene standards.

Real-life example:

A man went into surgery to fix a torn ligament in his knee, but because the hospital made a mistake matching the wrong medical records to his patient ID, he received the wrong knee repair. The error necessitated another surgery and extended recovery time so that he had to spend months out of work.

Patients trust surgeons and their teams to administer safe, accurate care. And when that trust is betrayed, the pain goes beyond physical suffering.

What to Do If You’re a Victim of Medical Malpractice in California

Medical malpractice puts victims feeling helpless, yet you don’t have to go through this process alone. Whether it’s birth injuries, failure to diagnose properly, or a surgical blunder, California law puts the ball in your court – to pursue justice and award compensation.

If you think you have suffered because of negligent medical treatment, contact experienced  to consult on your case. They can help you establish your rights, build a case, and bring home the right compensation.

You do not have to fight medical malpractice alone. Arbelegal specializes in medical malpractice in California law and will be there with you to fight for justice. Contact us today for a consultation to take that first step toward healing.