Medical malpractice happens every day in Pittsburgh, but it does not always result in an injury or death; therefore, it usually goes unnoticed. However, even medical negligence that does result in serious injuries and/or death can remain undetected, and the victims can be left to deal with their injuries or losses without any kind of justice or restitution. By knowing how medical malpractice usually occurs, Pennsylvania residents will be better equipped to detect the signs of negligence to ensure it does not go unnoticed.
One of the most common types of medical negligence involves the injury to a nerve during a surgical procedure. A doctor might cut too deeply or cut in a way that does not take into account the chance of a major nerve being damaged. Nerve damage injuries can result in severe pain, numbness and even disabilities.
Anesthesia and medication dosage errors are another form of medical negligence. For example, if too much anesthesia is administered during surgery, a patient's heart could stop beating. This could result in brain damage and other permanent injuries or death.
At Robert Peirce & Associates, P.C., we have seen and represented clients in numerous kinds of medical error cases throughout the Pittsburgh area. In addition to the above, we have seen patients whose doctors operated on the wrong areas of their bodies, emergency room errors, and malpractice relating to childbirth. We have even seen cases in which doctors left surgical equipment inside their patients' bodies. In any situation in which medical malpractice has occurred, injured parties or their families may have viable claims for justice and restitution in civil court.