Understanding the Most Common Types of Hospital Errors

Hospital errors affect thousands of patients each year, causing unnecessary suffering and sometimes tragic outcomes. While healthcare professionals work hard to provide quality care, mistakes can happen due to system failures, communication breakdowns, or human error. Understanding these common hospital errors can help patients and families recognize when something has gone wrong and know their legal options.

When hospital negligence causes injury or death, victims and their families have the right to seek compensation for their suffering. The hospital error attorneys at Jacobs & Dow, LLC,  know that understanding what constitutes hospital negligence is the first step toward protecting yourself and your loved ones.

Common Types of Hospital Errors

Hospital errors can occur in various forms, each carrying serious consequences for patients and their families. Here are the most frequent types of hospital errors that lead to preventable harm:

1. Medication Errors

Medication mistakes rank among the most common hospital errors. These can include prescribing the wrong medication, incorrect dosages, or failing to check for dangerous drug interactions. Patients may receive medications intended for other patients or experience overdoses that could have been prevented with proper protocols.

2. Surgical Errors

Surgical mistakes can be devastating and life-altering. These errors include operating on the wrong body part, leaving surgical instruments inside the patient, or making mistakes during the procedure itself. Poor communication between surgical team members often contributes to these preventable errors.

3. Misdiagnosis and Diagnostic Errors

When doctors fail to correctly diagnose a condition, miss a diagnosis entirely, or provide a wrong diagnosis, patients may not receive the treatment they need. Cancer misdiagnosis is particularly dangerous, as delayed treatment can significantly impact survival rates.

4. Nursing Errors and Nursing Malpractice

Nursing staff provide direct patient care, making their role critical in patient safety. Nursing errors can include failure to monitor patients properly, medication administration mistakes, or not following proper protocols for patient care and safety.

5. Failure to Monitor or Check Up on Patients

Hospitals have a duty to regularly monitor patients and respond to changes in their condition. When medical staff fail to check on patients or ignore warning signs, conditions can worsen rapidly, sometimes leading to preventable deaths.

6. Emergency Room Errors or Omissions

Emergency rooms are high-pressure environments where quick decisions can mean the difference between life and death. Common ER errors include failure to properly triage patients, misreading test results, or discharging patients who need immediate care.

Legal Recourse for Hospital Negligence

When hospital errors cause injury or death, patients and families have legal options. Medical malpractice law allows victims to seek compensation for injuries caused by hospital negligence.

The skilled attorneys at Jacobs & Dow, LLC represent clients in medical malpractice actions against hospitals for a wide range of negligence-related injuries, including:

• Dehydration or malnutrition
• Untreated bedsores and ulcers
• Undiagnosed hemorrhage or internal bleeding
• Birth injuries
• Physical abuse or sexual assault
• Burns, falls, and mishaps with medical equipment
• Serious or fatal infections
• Injuries from intravenous lines and catheters
• Falls due to inadequate fall prevention procedures
• Failure to diagnose and treat infections or cancer
• Radiology errors and misreading of diagnostic imaging
• Laboratory errors and false test results
• Errors with medical devices or implants

Take Action to Protect Your Rights

Prompt action is important in these cases to preserve critical evidence. Hospital records, witness statements, and other crucial information can disappear if not properly secured. An experienced attorney will work with courts and authorities to ensure evidence is preserved, witnesses are located, and hospital records remain available for your case.

At Jacobs & Dow, LLC, we welcome the opportunity to review the facts of your case and determine if your injuries were caused by hospital negligence or if a loved one died due to a fatal hospital mistake. Call (888) 309-5678 or use our online contact form to schedule a free consultation.