Hundreds of Georgia patients file complaints involving serious medical errors annually and many of these errors result in death. The true number of medical malpractice cases is predicted to be much higher, as many, if not most instances of medical malpractice in fact go unreported. Most patients or the family members of deceased patients never recognize medical malpractice as the cause of their illness.
Medical Malpractice is More Common than Most Realize
For example, according to malpractice insurance broker MEDPLI, in Georgia alone there were over $234 million in medical malpractice payouts in 2024.
Common Errors that Lead to Medical Malpractice Lawsuits
While any error that fails to meet the standard of care can result in serious injuries, some forms of medical malpractice are more common than others. Here are some of the most common medical errors that lead to lawsuits:
- Operating on the wrong patient: Lost paperwork, failing to identify the patient’s identity or placing incorrect information on the patient’s chart can result in a surgical team operating on a patient that came to the hospital to receive a different procedure.
- Operating on the wrong part of the body: Patients never expect to go under surgery and have the wrong body part operated on, but this error does occur. When the surgical team does not adequately specify what part of the body needs attention or if paperwork is mixed up, serious errors can result.
- Surgical items left behind: This is one of the most common errors, though new technologies are working to reduce the incidence of surgical or other items left inside patients. Many tools are used during an operation and if physicians fail to use sufficient care, these tools could be left behind.
- Misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis: Providing a patient with the right treatment depends upon the medical team knowing what they are treating. When a physician diagnoses a patient incorrectly and then the patient receives the wrong treatment, he or she could become far sicker. Delaying the correct diagnosis can similarly have devastating results.
- Birth injuries: Mistakes made during child birth can have long term consequences for the child or mother. Medical errors can lead to cerebral palsy, seizure disorders and other lifelong injuries for the child.
Montlick Injury Attorneys: Put Our Over 40 Years of Experience to Work on Your Medical Malpractice Case!
If you have been injured due to the negligence of a medical professional or have lost a loved one from medical negligence, contact the Georgia Medical Malpractice Attorneys at Montlick Injury Attorneys, Attorneys at Law. Our firm assists medical malpractice victims across Georgia and in the Southeast. We bring over 40 years of experience to your medical malpractice case and strive to provide you with the dedicated and knowledgeable representation you need to obtain the best possible outcome. The sooner you act after your injury or the loss of your loved one, the greater your chances of obtaining a full recovery. As such, it is important that you seek the assistance of a licensed lawyer as soon as possible. Call Montlick Injury Attorneys 24 hours a day/7 days a week for your Free Consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED® (1-800-529-6333). You can also visit us online at www.montlick.com and use our Free Case Evaluation Form or 24-hour Live Online Chat.
