Common Types of Medical Malpractice and Claim Requirements in Texas

When you go to a doctor or hospital for medical care, you expect to receive treatment and recover promptly. However, sometimes doctors or hospitals make mistakes that could prevent your timely recovery or cause more medical issues down the road. If you live in McAllen and suffered harmful consequences because of a medical error, call a Carabin Shaw lawyer for a free consultation to discuss your case. In the meantime, learn about the common types of medical malpractice and claim requirements in Texas.

The first requirement for filing a McAllen medical malpractice claim is that you suffered harm because of negligent medical care. You must prove that your doctor made a mistake because of negligence—the mistake itself doesn’t necessarily indicate malpractice. Negligence is determined by whether the doctor or hospital deviated from the accepted standard of care. The accepted standard of care means that another doctor in the same situation would have reasonably made the same decisions your doctor made in treating you. If, however, another doctor would not have made the same decisions, you might have a medical malpractice claim.

If you suffered harm because of a doctor or hospital negligence, our McAllen hospital negligence lawyers will assess your case and discuss your options with you. We’re experts in medical malpractice and have the knowledge and resources to fight for the compensation you deserve. Read on to learn about common types of medical malpractice.

So many people are involved in surgery that it’s no surprise that many malpractice claims are the result of surgical errors. Anesthesiologists, surgeons, and nurses must work in concert, and negligence by any of them could cause problems with your recovery. Some of these errors could go undetected for years. Contacting an attorney as soon as you discover one will help ensure your case doesn’t get barred by the strict statute of limitations in Texas. Some surgical errors that can result in a McAllen medical malpractice claim include:

• Surgery on the wrong body part, such as the right instead of the left leg
• Injury of a body part outside the scope of operation
• Materials left inside the patient’s body (often medical tools or surgical sponges)
• Use of unsanitary equipment and tools

Misdiagnosis means you were given the wrong diagnosis or no diagnosis when you were sick. Receiving a misdiagnosis can be extremely dangerous—it can result in you taking dangerous medications unnecessarily or leaving an illness or injury untreated. In either case, your condition might get worse because of the misdiagnosis. Misdiagnosis can also cause a prolonged period of sickness or a worse outcome than if you were diagnosed appropriately. If you think a misdiagnosis caused or worsened your medical condition, contact a medical malpractice attorney serving McAllen as soon as possible to discuss your case.

Another common reason for a medical malpractice claim is a new infection contracted while receiving treatment for your original, unrelated condition. These infections, otherwise known as “hospital-acquired infections,” can hinder your recovery. A surgical mistake or other negligent act might cause a new infection. If there are many hospital-acquired infections in the same hospital, they could connect to hospital negligence. In some cases, both a doctor and a hospital can be responsible for a new infection. If you suspect you acquired a virus because of medical negligence, contact a McAllen medical malpractice lawyer. Your counsel can assess your case and determine whether you deserve compensation from your doctor, the hospital, or both.

If you’ve suffered from medical malpractice and live in McAllen, don’t hesitate to contact a Carabin Shaw attorney today at 956-664-7255 or toll-free at 1-800-862-1260. You deserve compensation, and our McAllen hospital negligence lawyers will fight for your rights.