Mistakes In Medical Records A Common Cause Of Medical Malpractice In Tampa
Patient histories inform your doctor about your prior health, any symptoms you may be currently suffering from, and chronic conditions requiring immediate treatment. Meanwhile, medical information entered into your records influences the types of testing and other types of care you receive moving forward. Mistakes and errors that involve any of these documents can end up adversely impacting your health. Our Tampa medical malpractice attorney explains some of the problems this can create and your rights in seeking compensation for harm suffered.
Errors In Medical Records A Common Cause of Medical Malpractice In Tampa
Medical malpractice is a serious matter throughout the United States and can have potentially devastating impacts on patient health. Under the Florida Statutes, it is defined as a form of negligence in which a medical professional fails to provide the type or quality of care considered standard by others in the medical community. It can also involve behaving in a reckless manner and making mistakes that put the patient at risk.
Unfortunately, negligence on the part of your doctor, nurses, surgeons, or other medical providers can have serious impacts on your health. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, medical malpractice is a leading cause of death and disability in the U.S. One of the most common ways it happens is due to mistakes and oversights in patient histories and medical records. These errors often involve the following:
- Not obtaining thorough information about the patient’s current condition or health history;
- Entering the wrong information by mistake in patient records and charts;
- Not consulting the patient’s chart or other medical records before performing procedures, prescribing medications, or providing other treatments.
Filing A Tampa Medical Malpractice Claim Against Providers
The National Institutes of Health warns medical providers to pay close attention to patient charts, the types of information requested, and how it is entered into medical records. A single mistake could have devastating impacts, resulting in allergic reactions and other potentially life-threatening situations, as well as misdiagnosis and dangerous delays in treatment.
If you suspect you suffered harm due to mistakes on your chart or in your medical records, you may be entitled to file a medical malpractice claim in Tampa. This provides a sense of justice, sends a message to others in the medical community, and holds your particular providers accountable for the losses you suffer. Compensation available may include:
- Coverage of current and future medical expenses related to your condition;
- Payment for lost wages and any future lost earnings you are likely to incur;
- Additional amounts for your pain and suffering;
- Funeral costs and other expenses, in the event medical errors end up proving fatal.
Contact Our Tampa Medical Malpractice Attorneys
If you suspect your medical providers are guilty of medical malpractice in Tampa, contact Greco & Wozniak, P.A. We provide the caring support and trusted legal guidance you need to hold them accountable and get compensation. Request a consultation with our Tampa medical malpractice attorneys today.
Sources:
leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0700-0799/0766/0766ContentsIndex.html
hopkinsmedicine.org/news/media/releases/study_suggests_medical_errors_now_third_leading_cause_of_death_in_the_us
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499956/
