Sebastian County, AR Medical Malpractice Lawyer
We expect doctors with years of study and experience under their belt to provide us with the best of care. Unfortunately, the negligence of some doctors can result in a patient suffering a serious injury. When this occurs, a doctor could be held liable for medical malpractice. If you or a family member suffered a serious injury due to medical malpractice, consult with an experience Sebastian County, AR medical malpractice lawyer.
Ken Kieklak, Attorney at Law, is devoted to providing residents across Sebastian County and Arkansas with the legal representation they deserve. Ken Kieklak understands how a medical malpractice injury can affect your life, and he is here for you. To schedule a free legal consultation, contact Ken Kieklak, Attorney at Law, at (479) 316-0438.
Common Medical Malpractice Claims
Medical malpractice occurs when a medical practitioner fails to provide a patient with the standard of care that is common within their profession. There are various scenarios where a medical practitioner could injure a patient. Understanding the cause of these injuries can help a victim if they wish to file a medical malpractice lawsuit in Sebastian County, Arkansas.
The following is a list of medical malpractice claims that are commonly filed.
Failure to Diagnose
Failure to diagnose happens when a doctor fails to discover that a patient is suffering from a particular illness. In some cases, by the time the doctor discovers the illness, it may have progressed to an untreatable or difficult to treat form. When this happens, a doctor places a patient’s health in great jeopardy.
In other cases, a doctor may misdiagnose a patient with an illness. For example, if a doctor misdiagnoses a cancerous tumor as a minor issue, the patient can lose valuable time needed to diagnose and treat the condition.
Medication Errors
It is the obligation of a physician to understand what medications their patient takes to ensure that they do not prescribe a medication that interacts poorly with those medications. However, you might be surprised how often medication errors occur.
A serious medication error can mean that a patient is prescribed medication that can be life-threatening when mixed with their other prescriptions. For example, some drugs may cause a patient’s blood to thin excessively or could cause hypotension (low blood pressure).
Birth Injuries
We expect that a delivery doctor will ensure the safety of our child during the childbirth process. Unfortunately, some doctors may act negligently when handling the birth of a child.
The misuse of birth-assisting instruments is one issue that could lead to a serious birth injury for a newborn. Forceps and vacuum extractors are two types of birth-assisting instruments that a doctor may utilize to aid in the delivery of a child. These tools are typically attached to the head of the baby to help pull them from the birth canal. However, if a doctor fails to exercise the appropriate amount of force, they could easily harm the fragile body of a newborn.
Birth injuries can also affect the mother of the child. For example, if a doctor fails to diagnose any infections that a mother contracts during the pregnancy, they can develop into other serious health issues. Additionally, if a mother would be safer if the child was delivered via cesarean section, a doctor should relay this to the mother. Failure to alert a mother to issues that could result in a serious injury could make a doctor liable for any birth injuries she sustains.
Surgery Errors
Undergoing surgery is a big step for any patient, which is why many patients hope they have selected a surgeon that will provide them with the care they deserve. However, if a surgeon is not diligent when performing a surgery, there are a number of ways that a patient could be injured. For example, if a surgeon leaves a sponge or other surgical instrument inside a patient, it can cause the patient a variety of injuries.
In extreme cases, a surgeon may perform surgery on the incorrect part of the patient’s body. As a result, a surgeon could amputate the wrong limb or could operate on organs that were functioning correctly.
There are other types of medical malpractice claims not discussed above. To learn more about liability for an instance of medical malpractice, you should continue reading and speak with an experienced Arkansas medical malpractice lawyer.
Determining Liability for Medical Malpractice in Sebastian County, AR
If you were a victim of medical malpractice in Sebastian County, Arkansas, you likely want to know whether your doctor or hospital could be held responsible for your injuries. When providing a patient with medical care, doctors are not expected to provide a patient with flawless medical care. This means that some minor mistakes may not amount to the level of medical malpractice.
Generally, doctors are required to provide a patient with medical care that does not fall below the standard of care that is common within their profession. Specifically, a doctor is expected to treat a patient with the level of care that is common among their colleagues in their particular field.
To determine whether a doctor upheld the appropriate standard of care, it will likely be necessary to consult with medical experts skilled in the same field as the doctor that committed malpractice.
Determining whether a hospital is liable for the actions of a patient can sometimes be difficult. Some physicians may be employed as independent contractors, which can affect a hospital’s liability. Our firm can help you discover the appropriate parties that can be held responsible for your injuries.
Contact Our Experienced Sebastian County Medical Malpractice Attorney To Discuss Your Claim
If you were a victim of medical malpractice, you should contact an experienced Sebastian County medical malpractice attorney today. With over two decades of legal experience, injury attorney Ken Kieklak is ready to help you pursue compensation for your claim. To schedule a free legal consultation to discuss your claim, contact Ken Kieklak at (479) 316-0438. You can also contact the firm online.