Different types of medical malpractice can lead to injuries or illness. Sometimes the effects are minimal, but the results of medical mistakes can be severe, disabling or life-threatening.

If you believe that medical negligence caused bodily harm to you or a loved one, you may benefit in talking with a malpractice attorney in New York. The details of your circumstances will be reviewed carefully and a determination will be made as to whether or not you have a case.

New YorkMedical Malpractice Statistics

Unfortunately, the state of New York was ranked number one when it comes to the number of medical malpractice claims in 2011. According to State Health Facts, 1,379 claims were paid out.

To put this into perspective, out of all 50 states, a total of 9,497 malpractice claims were paid. New York was responsible for a significant amount of this medical negligence.

An Overview of Medical Malpractice Injuries

Results of medical mistakes can vary. It will depend on the type of malpractice and how egregious the careless or reckless actions were.

One common type of malpractice is failing to diagnose a medical condition. Although it doesn’t always mean a patient’s health will be compromised, certain conditions could worsen or become fatal.

In other words, if a diagnosis had been given, treatment might have slowed the progression or allowed the patient to make a full recovery. Examples of missed diagnoses that could be serious include heart attack, stroke, diabetes, blood clots and cancer.

Results of Medical Mistakes Are Serious

Similar to a failure to diagnose, a delayed diagnosis can be just as dangerous and is considered medical negligence. While a tumor caught early might have been treatable, not discovering it until later could result in it spreading.

Another type of medical malpractice is giving the wrong diagnosis. Not only could this result in the patient not receiving the proper type of treatment, but he or she also could be injured or sickened after receiving unnecessary and potentially harmful treatment.

Results of medical mistakes, like surgical mistakes, can lead to a variety of injuries. Accidentally cutting a vital organ or operating on the wrong body part could be life-threatening.

Surgery on the wrong part of the body can be life-altering. For instance, an amputation is planned for the left arm, but a communication mistake results in the right arm being taken.

It’s not uncommon in malpractice for surgical tools (such as sponges and metal instruments) to be left inside a patient. This can lead to internal bleeding, infection and the necessity of additional surgery.

Medical malpractice cases can arise out of mistakes with medication. Prescribing the wrong kind or the wrong dose could lead to severe side effects.

Medical negligence can result in birth injuries, including oxygen deprivation (which can cause conditions such as cerebral palsy), nerve damage, fractures and shoulder dystocia.

It’s important to seek legal counsel if you believe that medical negligence and the results of medical mistakes caused injury or illness. An attorney will look at all of the evidence available to determine if you have the right to pursue compensation in a medical malpractice claim. Call Gacovino, Lake & Associates for help in New York and beyond: (800) 246-4878.