When you seek treatment from a doctor, nurse or other medical professional, you expect that person to use his or her education, training and expertise to provide you with the best care possible. Unfortunately, this doesn’t always happen, and there are a number of errors that often occur in hospitals and clinics in Georgia and across the United States.

The following are some of the most common medical errors in the healthcare world:

• Delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis: A physician who provides an incorrect diagnosis or fails to diagnose a condition completely may risk a patient’s life. Not only do patients not receive the treatment they need, but they may also be subject to unnecessary treatment that ends up harming them further.
• Prescription errors: Doctors may prescribe the wrong medications or order incorrect dosages. In other cases, a nurse may administer the wrong amount of medication, causing serious complications for the patient.
• Birth injuries: Many fetal injuries are the result of medical negligence, which may take place before, during or after the birthing process. Common conditions resulting from these issues are Erb’s palsy, brain injuries and bone fractures.
• Surgical mistakes: These are more common than you might think. Surgeons may puncture internal organs, operate on the wrong area of the body or leave instruments inside the body.

As you can tell, there is a lot that can go wrong in a healthcare setting. However, not all injuries and illness suffered while in the care of a medical professional constitute medical malpractice — only those that result from clear negligence on the part of a physician, nurse or other healthcare professional.

If you believe you have suffered due to negligent medical care, contact a skilled Atlanta personal injury lawyer at McMenamy Law LLC to learn more about your legal options.