What Is Medical Malpractice in Houston, TX?

Did you know that medical errors are a leading cause of death in America?

Medical malpractice is unfortunately far from uncommon, affecting individuals and families all over the country. 

What is medical malpractice? Are you a victim? Continue reading to learn more about medical malpractice laws in Houston, Texas. 

What is Medical Malpractice?

Medical malpractice relates to the negligence of a professional in the healthcare sector (doctor, nurse, dentist, home healthcare provider, etc). Due to the professional’s negligence or failure to perform his/her medical duty, a patient suffers injury, harm, or death. 

Medical malpractice can occur due to: 

  • Misdiagnosis of a condition or illness 
  • Inadequate treatment 
  • Surgery error 

Examples of Medical Malpractice 

Medical malpractice can have lasting consequences. Below are a couple of examples of the impact of medical malpractice. 

Example 1: Surgery 

A young teenage patient goes into brain surgery in an attempt to ease her epilepsy symptoms. The surgery is very complex in nature and requires a team of top neurosurgeons.

During the surgery, the chief neurosurgeon decides to take a considerable risk to accelerate the progression of the surgery. As a result, the patient wakes up with limited brain function and is dependent on others for care for the rest of her life. 

This is a medical malpractice case for two key reasons. First, no medical professional should attempt to accelerate a surgery just so it is completed faster. Second, considerable risks should not be taken unless: 

  • The patient consented to the risk ahead of time (Failure to Warn) and the risk can increase the patient’s wellbeing to a significant degree 
  • The risk is the only way to save the patient’s life 

Example 2: Misdiagnosis of Illness and Inadequate Treatment 

A middle-aged man has been ill for nearly a week. He has a fever, feels fatigued, and has difficulty breathing. Stubborn, the man refuses to see a doctor and believes he can sleep off his illness. 

His wife finally convinces him to seek professional medical attention after a week of increasing symptoms. He visits a local medical clinic and the physician diagnoses him with pneumonia (without testing him for it). The doctor prescribes heavy antibiotics and tells the man to go home and rest. 

After a few days of taking antibiotics, the man is only getting worse. His wife rushes him to the hospital and the medical team there tests him for COVID-19. He tests positive and is hospitalized for weeks to recover.

Additionally, the team discovers that he had an allergic reaction to the antibiotics, which made his condition worse. He can not go to work for months and loses significant income. 

This is a medical malpractice case for two key reasons: 

  • The medical clinic doctor diagnosed the man with pneumonia without enough confirmation 
  • The medical clinic doctor prescribed inadequate medication that only made the patient worse 

Medical Malpractice Is a Serious Issue 

Unfortunately, many individuals who experience medical malpractice in Houston, Texas do not get the compensation they deserve.

This is why it is essential to contact a medical malpractice lawyer if you believe that you are a victim. Acquire as much evidence as possible and ensure you provide great detail to your attorney. 

With an experienced lawyer, you can file a compelling lawsuit and have a higher likelihood of winning the compensation you desire and deserve. 

At WestLoop Law, we help personal injury victims with their medical malpractice cases. Attorney Nhan Nguyen is not only an experienced lawyer, but also a medical doctor who has expertise in medical negligence. 

To learn more about medical malpractice and our services, please contact a member of our team today. 

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