As discussed in a previous article, medical malpractice is one of the more complex types of personal injury cases seen in Calgary. The specialized knowledge and standards of care expected of medical professionals can make it difficult for non-experts to assess when true malpractice has occurred versus when when medical capabilities simply weren’t enough to predict or prevent increased or prolonged injury.

To help the average Calgary citizen better understand when they may have a valid medical malpractice claim, the personal injury lawyers at Cuming & Gillespie LLP have put together a few brief descriptions of some common types of medical malpractice cases. This list does not include all types of malpractice injuries, and you will still need to consult with an experienced Calgary personal injury lawyer regarding the specifics of your case before a malpractice suit can be filed.

Failure to Diagnose as Medical Malpractice

When a medical professional fails to accurately diagnose a patient’s condition, it can delay treatment and lead to a worsened prognosis. If this failure to diagnose was the result of a physician error or oversight, and if it led to a significantly worsened condition, it could be deemed a cause of action for a medical malpractice claim. A negligent misdiagnosis or failure to diagnose can be life-altering, and medical professionals should be held accountable for those mistakes.

Surgical Errors Leading to Personal Injuries

Numerous medical malpractice cases have also arisen out of errors committed during surgery that can lead to all manner of complications for surgery patients. Stories of surgical instruments being left inside patients—requiring subsequent surgeries to remove them—are surprisingly common, and subject the patient’s body to far more stress than is necessary. There are many other errors that can occur during surgery that may also represent malpractice.

Anaesthesia Injuries and Wrongful Deaths

Anaesthesiologists have a tricky job, and when they make a mistake, the results are often catastrophic: permanent paralysis, brain damage, and death are common outcomes of medical malpractice by Anaesthesiologists. These cases should be vigorously pursued.

Negligence and Hospital-Acquired Infections

While hospitals are supposed to be places to heal from illness and injury, failure to maintain proper sterilization practices and medical professional hygiene can lead to the transfer of infectious illnesses that result in extended hospital stays and can require additional care. Hospital acquired infections can be quite virulent and cause tremendous ongoing pain and suffering, and are frequently causes of action in medical malpractice claims.

Contact a Calgary Medical Malpractice Lawyer to Learn More

Try as we might, we’ll never be able to take the decades of knowledge possessed by the lawyers and legal team of Cuming & Gillespie LLP and put them in a single blog article. If you believe you’ve been injured as the result of a medical professional’s malpractice and would like to learn more about your rights and how the law pertains to your case please get in touch with us to schedule an appointment for a free initial consultation.