Seven Reasons Physicians Are Sued For Medical Malpractice

It is estimated 100,000 people die each year from medical errors caused by physicians alone. There are a number of reasons patients sue their doctors, but Dr. R.J. Roberts, of the University of Wisconsin Medical School, identified in his Family Practice Management article of March, 2003, 7 reasons why medical errors occur:

1. Cancer Misdiagnosis or Failure to Diagnose or a Delay in Diagnosis: This is especially true of breast cancer patients. Doctors who rely on false negative mammogram studies rather than on patient complaints and following up appropriately may cause harm to the patient and be liable for medical malpractice. Approximately 29 percent of screening mammograms return false negative results;

2. Birth Injury Malpractice or Negligent Maternity Care Practice: The two most common birth defect or birth injury medical malpractice claims arise from excessive use of oxytocin, specifically if the baby is experiencing distress, and the doctor's failure to ensure their patient is covered by another physician informed about the patient's clinical history should the primary doctor be unavailable;

3. Wrong Diagnosis and Misdiagnosis of Negligent Fracture or Trauma: This medical malpractice claim occurs when a doctor assumes that a fracture is merely a sprain or other minor injury without follow through investigation with x-rays or other proper diagnostic tests. Dependent on the location of the fracture, this can have severe consequences, including loss of a limb;