Providence Medical Malpractice Lawyer​

Types Of Medical Malpractice Cases Handled By Marasco & Nesselbush Law Firm

Medical malpractice occurs in virtually every practice area, but some specialties present higher risks. Ten specialties with the highest malpractice lawsuit frequency in the USA are:

• Surgery
• Obstetrics and gynecology
• Orthopedics
• Plastic surgery
• Otolaryngology
• Radiology
• Urology
• Emergency medicine
• Critical care
• Cardiology

Medical mistakes can occur during both inpatient and outpatient treatment. Here are the types of medical malpractice cases Marasco & Nesselbush Law Firm can help you handle:

Diagnostic Errors

Diagnostic errors are the most prevalent errors made in outpatient settings and include:

• Failure to diagnose
• Misdiagnosis
• Delayed diagnosis

Delayed Treatment

Delaying treatment after diagnosis is the third most common medical error. Delayed treatment allows conditions to worsen and increases patients’ medical costs.

Anesthesia Errors

Anesthesia errors most commonly occur because of inadequate situational awareness during surgery. Situational awareness errors refer to the anesthesiologist’s:

• Failure to perceive patient details
• Failure to realize the implications of those details
• Failure to plan

The most common consequence of anesthesia errors is brain injury, followed by respiratory impairments. Both injuries can cause disabling conditions and death.

Surgical Errors

The majority of medical errors in hospitals are surgical errors. These typically include:

• Wrong-site surgeries
• Wrong-patient surgeries
• Incorrect procedures
• Accidental lacerations that cause hemorrhages
• Leaving instruments, sponges, or other foreign bodies inside the patient

Medication Errors

Medication mistakes occur inside and outside healthcare facilities. Vulnerable populations experience heightened risks of medication errors. Children present dosing challenges, and the elderly are the most likely to be prescribed cardiovascular medications, which have the highest incidence of adverse drug interactions caused by medical errors. However, medication errors can happen to any patient.
Medication errors in hospitals occur when healthcare providers:

• Prescribe inappropriate drugs
• Dispense incorrect medications
• Fail to dispense necessary medications
• Administer medication at incorrect dosages or intervals
• Administer medication to incorrect patients
• Administer medication via incorrect methods

Medication errors outside hospitals most often occur when pharmacists dispense incorrect medications or dosages.

The most common root causes of medication errors include the following:

• Drug names and labels that look or sound alike
• Illegible handwriting on prescriptions
• Abbreviated drug names on prescriptions
• Labeling errors
• Excessive workloads
• Medication shortages

Errors During Childbirth

Birth injuries most often occur during complicated births that require forceps or vacuum extraction assistance.
Common Injuries from forceps or vacuum-assisted delivery include:

• Skull fractures, which could cause traumatic brain injuries
• Intracranial hemorrhages
• Facial injuries
• Spinal cord and nerve injuries
• Clavicular fractures
• Soft tissue injuries
• Organ damage

Oxygen deprivation during birth, also known as birth asphyxia, causes brain injury and organ damage and can result in significant long-term effects, including:

• Cerebral palsy
• Intellectual disabilities
• Physical disabilities

Hospital-Acquired Infections

Approximately one in every twenty patients acquires potentially life-threatening fungal, bacterial, and viral infections, often leading to meningitis, pneumonia, and urinary tract infections. These infections are most often caused by the failure of medical professionals to wash their hands.

Nursing Home Neglect And Abuse

Nursing home residents have high rates of chronic health conditions that require extensive care due to immobility, fall susceptibility, dementia, and other disabilities.
Nursing home neglect consists of the following deficiencies in care:

• Failure to frequently reposition immobile patients leading to pressure ulcers, commonly known as bedsores
• Lack of toileting and hygiene assistance
• Lack of assistance eating or drinking
• Failure to provide psychological support
• Inadequate supervision

Nursing home abuse is also medical malpractice because nursing homes are responsible for the safety of their residents. Sadly, nursing home residents too frequently endure abuse from visitors, other residents, and nursing home staff.

Types of nursing home abuse include:

• Physical, psychological, and sexual abuse
• Rough handling
• Financial exploitation

What Type Of Compensation Can I Receive In My Medical Malpractice Case?

You could receive economic, non-economic, and punitive damages for your injuries.

Economic damages for medical malpractice can cover medical bills and lost earnings, whereas non-economic damages are awarded for pain and suffering and loss of consortium.

Punitive damages are awarded as a punishment against the provider in cases of blatant or willful neglect.

The amount of compensation you receive will depend upon the lifetime impact of your injuries.

How Long Do I Have To File A Medical Malpractice Lawsuit?

The statute of limitations for personal injury cases, including for victims of medical malpractice, is three years from the date the injury occurred, the injury was discovered, or should reasonably have been discovered.

It is imperative to involve an experienced medical malpractice attorney as early as possible to allow adequate time to interview expert witnesses and build your case.

Call The Providence Medical Malpractice Lawyers At Marasco & Nesselbush For A Free Consultation

Medical malpractice cases are some of the most challenging personal injury claims. Healthcare providers and their insurance companies enjoy legal representation by some of the highest-performing lawyers in the nation. Proving these claims is often challenging and requires detailed analyses.

The experienced personal injury lawyers at Marasco & Nesselbush have negotiation and litigation skills that rival that of any health care provider’s counsel. We not only provide high-caliber legal representation with no upfront costs but also stay by your side and vigorously advocate for you during negotiations and, if necessary, in court.

Our personalized and compassionate service, vast network of resources, and in-house medical experts afford our clients an advantage in court and negotiations.

Our results speak to the efficacy of our detailed approach:

• $2.05 million recovered in the wrongful death caused by negligent anesthesia administration
• $1.5 million recovered for a wrongful death caused by an undiagnosed brain injury
• $1.4 million awarded to a client who sustained permanent injuries from a surgical error
• $1.2 million awarded after an obstetrical error caused birth defects

If you or your loved one has sustained an injury because of medical malpractice, the law offices of Marasco & Nesselbush can help you recover compensation for ongoing medical treatment and future financial security.

We are a leading medical malpractice law firm in Rhode Island, with offices in Providence, RI; East Providence, RI; Wakefield, RI; Warwick, RI; Woonsocket, RI; and Quincy, MA.

Our Providence office is located at:

685 Westminster Street Providence, RI 02903

You can call us at (401) 281-8552 or contact us using our convenient online form to schedule a consultation and receive a free case evaluation.

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FAQs

Who can be held liable for medical malpractice?

Healthcare providers, including doctors, nurses, surgeons, anesthesiologists, pharmacists, and medical facilities, can be held liable for medical malpractice if their negligent actions result in patient harm.

How do I know if I have a medical malpractice case?

You may have a medical malpractice case if a healthcare provider’s actions (or inactions) deviate from the accepted standard of care and cause significant harm or injury to the patient. A medical malpractice attorney can help you determine if you have a case with the help of medical experts.

When Can I Sue for Medical Malpractice?

You can sue for medical malpractice when there is clear evidence that a healthcare provider’s negligence has caused direct harm. You need to file a medical malpractice lawsuit within three years of the injury or its discovery. Given the complexity of these cases, having an experienced medical malpractice lawyer is essential to navigate the legal process, gather the necessary evidence, and advocate for your rights.

Is Medical Malpractice Difficult to Prove?

Yes, it is often challenging to prove because it requires detailed analysis and expert testimony to demonstrate that the healthcare service provider’s actions fell below the standard of care and caused injury or harm.

What is the Difference Between Medical Malpractice and Negligence?

Negligence refers to any failure to exercise reasonable care, which can lead to injury or harm. On the other hand, medical malpractice is a specific form of negligence that involves a healthcare provider deviating from the accepted standard of medical care.