When the loss of a loved one happens due to medical error or negligence, it can be devastating. Patients put a great deal of trust in medical professionals to provide competent, safe, and thorough care. That trust is breached when medical staff fails to prevent an otherwise avoidable death.
Following are some of the most common causes of wrongful death in medical settings.
1. Diagnostic Errors
So much of a patient’s outcome depends on an accurate diagnosis. When performed correctly, the diagnostic process provides a clear understanding of a patient’s underlying medical conditions. It also will inform nearly every aspect of the patient’s treatment and subsequent medical decisions.
However, inaccurate or delayed diagnoses can result in ineffective treatments, unnecessary procedures, injury, and even death.
The diagnostic process is a series of collaborative procedures that aim to accumulate sufficient information to make an accurate diagnosis. It begins the moment a patient experiencing a health problem engages with a healthcare provider and includes patient interviews, physical examinations, diagnostic testing, referral, and consultation.
Errors can happen at nearly any stage of this process, particularly when multiple parties are involved. One study found that the primary reasons for diagnostic errors are:
- Clinician’s fatigue
- Distraction
- Failure to consider differential diagnoses
- Neglect of diagnostic testing follow-up
- Inadequate patient follow-up care
2. Surgical Errors
Patients are at their most vulnerable during surgical procedures. When an intraoperative error occurs, the results can be catastrophic and deadly. One recent study estimated that surgical errors were the primary issue in 75% of malpractice cases against surgeons.
There are several types of surgical errors which can lead to wrongful death in medical settings, including:
- Retained surgical instruments, in which items like gauze or clamps are mistakenly left inside a patient after surgery
- Anesthesia errors, like administering too much or failing to monitor a patient’s vital signs
- Nerve or organ damage, in which a surgeon damages vessels, tissue, or organs
- Procedural errors, which include any critical errors made during the operation
- Wrong-site surgery, in which a surgeon operates on the wrong body part, even the wrong patient
3. Medication Errors
Medications give doctors the power to heal, treat, or even cure disease. However, when medication errors are made, they can cause a great deal of harm. Medication errors can cause allergic reactions, damage to internal organs, permanent disabilities, and wrongful deaths.
Several commonly seen types of medication errors may lead to wrongful death, including:
- Overdose
- Wrong medication
- Allergic reactions
- Drug interactions
- Administration errors
- Missed or delayed doses
4. Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs)
Hospitals and other health facilities are supposed to be a place for healing. Unfortunately, one of the most common causes of wrongful death in medical settings stems from healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).
These infections can be caused by various bacteria, fungi, and viruses, including:
- C. diff (Clostridioides difficile)
- Catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI)
- Central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI)
- MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)
- Surgical site infection (SSI)
- Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP)
HAIs are painful and particularly dangerous for patients with already weakened immune systems. Data published by the Center for Disease Control found that on any given day, about one in 31 hospital patients has at least one healthcare-associated infection.
Failing to follow the right infection control rules is a primary reason for the spread of HAIs. Hospitals and clinics need to implement and enforce strict infection control measures, such as washing hands, wearing the right protective gear, and cleaning and disinfecting the environment to stop infections from spreading.
Seeking Justice and Accountability
If you believe you have lost a loved one due to negligence or medical malpractice, it’s essential to seek legal advice. The experienced wrongful death attorneys at Simeone & Miller LLP can help you understand your rights and options. We will thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding your loved one’s death and fight tirelessly to hold negligent parties accountable. Contact Simeone & Miller LLP today for a free consultation.
