Doctors spend well over a decade in school, and surgeons often spend even longer gaining knowledge and honing their skills. Because of how highly trained and educated they are, it’s hard to imagine that they make many mistakes—let alone mistakes caused by preventable errors and even negligence.
But unfortunately, serious mistakes occur all the time in the medical field, and some of those mistakes have serious consequences for patients. In fact, medical mistakes kill more than 7,000 previously healthy people every year, and more than 250,000 overall die as a result of these errors. But what causes medical mistakes and malpractice?
There are many reasons medical malpractice happens, but some of the most common causes include:
- Impairment—Sometimes, doctors treat patients while they’re under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Being impaired can significantly impact their judgment and cause them to make deadly mistakes.
- Rushing—Many doctors face staff shortages, a lack of time, and too many patients to see in a single day. That can cause them to rush through examinations and procedures, resulting in oversights and mistakes.
- Not following procedures—Doctors and surgeons are supposed to do their jobs by the book, especially when operating. But providers who skip steps may puts patients at risk of wrong-site operations or even left-behind surgical tools.
At Skolrood Law Firm, our Roanoke medical malpractice lawyers don’t let negligent healthcare providers get away with harming patients because of their carelessness. We hold them and hospitals accountable for the injuries and illnesses their patients suffer.
If you or someone you love was harmed by a negligent medical professional, we want to help. Contact us today for a free consultation.
