When you go to a hospital or doctor, you trust that they will do everything to keep you safe and help you get better. Sadly, mistakes happen more often than people expect, and the results can be serious.
Medical malpractice occurs when a doctor, nurse, or other healthcare provider fails to meet the care that patients should reasonably receive, and that failure causes harm. It is not about every complication, but about preventable errors that leave patients with lasting injuries or major setbacks.
After such an experience, it can feel overwhelming to know what to do next or how to protect your rights. Pribanic & Pribanic can help you handle these difficult situations with a medical malpractice lawyer in Pittsburgh who will stand by your side.
Key Takeaways: Common Forms of Medical Malpractice
- Misdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis represent some of the most frequent malpractice claims, often leading to disease progression that could have been prevented with timely treatment.
- Surgical errors include wrong-site surgery, leaving instruments inside patients, and performing unnecessary procedures that cause serious harm.
- Medication mistakes happen during prescribing, dispensing, or administering drugs, sometimes resulting in allergic reactions, overdoses, or dangerous drug interactions.
- Birth injuries affect both mothers and babies when providers fail to monitor properly, delay necessary interventions, or use excessive force during delivery.
- Anesthesia errors can cause brain damage, organ failure, or death when dosages are incorrect or patients aren't monitored adequately.
- Failure to obtain informed consent leaves patients unaware of risks they should have known about before agreeing to treatment.
- Call a medical malpractice lawyer if you believe substandard care caused you or a loved one serious harm.
Why Misdiagnosis and Delayed Diagnosis Cause Serious Harm
Diagnostic errors make up a large portion of medical malpractice claims across Pennsylvania. When a doctor misses a diagnosis or identifies the wrong condition, valuable treatment time is lost. Early-stage cancer can progress to a later, less treatable stage. Heart conditions may go untreated until a major cardiac event occurs. Infections can spread while the wrong illness is treated.
Diagnosis is like detective work. Doctors must gather all clues, consider possibilities, and follow the evidence. Skipping tests, dismissing symptoms, or jumping to conclusions is like ignoring critical evidence. The consequences can be life-threatening.
Delayed diagnosis happens when a condition is eventually identified, but only after crucial time has passed. Multiple visits may be needed before the correct test is ordered, making treatment more complicated, expensive, and less effective. Misdiagnosis occurs when the wrong condition is treated, leaving the real problem unchecked. Heart attacks mistaken for indigestion, strokes dismissed as migraines, and cancers misattributed to minor issues are common examples.
These cases happen when providers fail to meet the standard of care by not conducting thorough exams, ordering proper tests, following up on results, or referring to specialists. Our team has helped patients seek accountability when simple actions could have prevented devastating outcomes.
How Surgical Mistakes Happen in Operating Rooms
Operating rooms are meant to be controlled environments, yet surgical errors still happen in hospitals across western Pennsylvania. These mistakes can range from minor complications to life-altering injuries.
Wrong-site surgery, though it seems impossible, does occur. Surgeons sometimes operate on the wrong knee, remove a healthy kidney, or even perform a procedure on the wrong patient. These "never events" should never happen when proper protocols are followed.
Retained surgical instruments are another serious issue. Sponges, clamps, and needles left inside patients can cause infections, pain, additional surgeries, and sometimes death. Counting tools before and after surgery is standard, but mistakes happen when teams rush or get distracted.
Unnecessary surgery exposes patients to risk without benefit. Some procedures are performed without justification, while others are more extensive than needed, often when profit is prioritized over patient safety.
Damage to surrounding organs or structures, as well as anesthesia errors, can cause permanent harm. Careful planning, monitoring, and precise technique are critical. When these standards are not met, patients deserve accountability and a chance to seek compensation.
Medication Errors That Put Patients at Risk
Medication mistakes can happen at several points in care. Doctors may prescribe the wrong drug or dosage. Pharmacists can fill prescriptions incorrectly. Nurses or other healthcare staff may give medications improperly. Each error carries the potential for serious harm.
Prescription errors occur when doctors order medications that interact dangerously with other drugs, are unsafe for allergies, or are dosed incorrectly. These risks are especially high for children, where small miscalculations can have major consequences.
Pharmacist errors can involve dispensing the wrong drug, the wrong strength, or providing incorrect instructions. Such mistakes often go unnoticed until patients experience adverse reactions.
Administration errors happen when medications are given to the wrong patient, at the wrong time, by the wrong route, or too quickly. Miscommunication during shift changes or confusion between similar drug names can increase these risks.
The effects range from minor side effects to severe allergic reactions, organ damage, or death, particularly for patients taking multiple medications.
Our team at Pribanic & Pribanic has helped clients whose lives were upended by preventable medication errors. We investigate prescriptions, pharmacy records, and hospital protocols to determine where care failed and help patients seek accountability and compensation.
Birth Injuries Caused by Negligent Obstetric Care
Pregnancy and childbirth should be joyful, but mistakes in obstetric care can turn them into tragedies. Both mothers and babies may suffer serious injuries when doctors, nurses, or hospitals fail to provide proper care during labor and delivery.
Failure to monitor is a common cause of birth injuries. Medical teams must continuously track the baby's heart rate and the mother's vital signs. Warning signs on fetal monitoring strips show when a baby is in distress and needs immediate help. Ignoring these signals can lead to oxygen deprivation and lasting brain damage.
Delays in cesarean sections also cause preventable injuries. When vaginal delivery becomes unsafe, timely surgical intervention is critical. Prolonged oxygen deprivation can result in cerebral palsy, developmental delays, seizures, and other permanent conditions.
Excessive force during delivery can fracture a baby's skull, damage nerves, or cause brain bleeding. Maternal conditions like preeclampsia or infections that go undiagnosed put both mother and child at risk, and medication errors can create serious complications.
In Western Pennsylvania, birth injury cases require careful review to show where care fell short. Medical malpractice claims ensure families can seek accountability and support for lifelong consequences.
The Dangers of Anesthesia Errors
Anesthesia makes modern surgery possible, but mistakes in its use can cause serious harm. Anesthesiologists and nurse anesthetists handle powerful medications, and even small errors can have lasting effects.
Dosage mistakes are the most common. Too much anesthesia can lead to brain damage, organ failure, coma, or death. Too little may leave patients conscious but paralyzed during surgery, a frightening experience with long-term psychological impact.
Failing to monitor patients properly can also be dangerous. Providers must track oxygen levels, heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing throughout surgery. Overlooking changes can result in cardiac arrest, stroke, or death.
Intubation errors can damage teeth, vocal cords, or airways. Misplaced breathing tubes may deliver oxygen to the stomach instead of the lungs, causing brain damage.
Pre-procedure evaluations and equipment checks are essential. Skipping thorough medical history reviews or ignoring equipment warnings can trigger serious complications.
In Allegheny County, anesthesia providers must follow strict safety standards. When negligence causes harm, medical malpractice claims give patients a way to seek accountability and compensation.
Understanding Informed Consent Violations
Before any medical procedure, you have the right to give informed consent. This means your healthcare provider must explain the treatment, its risks and benefits, alternative options, and what happens if you choose not to proceed. Skipping this step or giving incomplete information violates your ability to make decisions about your own body.
Informed consent is more than signing a form. True consent involves a conversation in plain language where your doctor answers your questions. Failing to disclose material risks is the most common violation. Downplaying or omitting serious risks prevents you from weighing your options.
Not discussing alternatives also limits your ability to make informed choices. Less invasive treatments or watchful waiting may be reasonable options that go unmentioned.
Consent violations often overlap with other malpractice, such as injuries caused during surgery that weren't fully explained. Emergency exceptions are narrow, and doctors cannot use them to avoid meaningful discussions when there is time to explain.
When to Contact a Medical Malpractice Attorney in Pittsburgh
Not every poor medical outcome is malpractice, but if negligent care caused serious harm, your situation deserves a closer look. In Pennsylvania, medical malpractice claims face strict deadlines and detailed procedures, making early legal guidance essential.
Consider contacting a medical malpractice attorney if you experienced unexpected complications your doctor didn't warn you about, needed extra surgeries to correct mistakes, your condition worsened instead of improving, or if a loved one died during routine treatment.
To succeed, a claim must show that a doctor-patient relationship existed, the provider fell short of accepted care standards, that this caused your injury, and that you suffered damages. These cases often rely on medical testimony to explain what proper care should have been.
The process includes reviewing medical records, consulting physicians in the same specialty, and sometimes lengthy litigation. Pennsylvania law also requires a certificate of merit, confirming a qualified medical professional believes the claim is valid.
Time is critical. You generally have two years from the date of injury to file, and delays can close the courthouse doors entirely, even if your case is strong.
Holding Negligent Healthcare Providers Accountable
Medical malpractice cases hold healthcare providers accountable and encourage hospitals to improve safety for future patients. When negligence has consequences, providers are pushed to adopt better practices and training.
Keeping thorough documentation is critical. Save medical records, bills, prescriptions, and all correspondence. Write down conversations with doctors while details are fresh, and take photos of visible injuries or complications. These records can make a significant difference if a claim arises.
Seeking a second opinion can help clarify whether your care was appropriate. Another physician in the same specialty may confirm your treatment was reasonable or reveal mistakes that occurred. This step can provide reassurance or validate your concerns.
Medical malpractice cases can be complex and costly, but many lawyers work on contingency fees, meaning you pay only if you recover compensation. This allows you to pursue your case without upfront financial burden.
Our goal is to protect your rights, get the support you need, and contribute to safer medical care. We guide you through the process with care, keeping your needs at the center every step of the way.
Get Help from Our Pittsburgh Medical Malpractice Lawyers
Medical mistakes can change your life in an instant, leaving lasting physical, emotional, and financial challenges. You shouldn't face this alone.
At Pribanic & Pribanic, personal injury attorneys in Pittsburgh guide you through these difficult times and help hold those responsible accountable. We work with medical professionals to review your care and determine if it fell short of accepted standards. While we handle the legal process, you can focus on your recovery.
If you or a loved one suffered serious harm from medical negligence, reach out today. Call our office at (412) 672-5444. We'll review your situation and explain your next steps.
Common FAQs About Medical Malpractice Cases
What makes a medical mistake count as malpractice?
A medical error is malpractice only if it breaches the standard of care and causes harm.
How long do I have to file a medical malpractice lawsuit in Pennsylvania?
In Pennsylvania, you have two years from injury to file a malpractice claim. Exceptions exist, but consult a personal injury lawyer promptly.
Do I need to prove my doctor intended to harm me?
No. Medical malpractice is based on negligence, not intent. You must show that your provider failed to meet the appropriate standard of care, but you don't need to prove they meant to cause harm.
Can I sue if my doctor didn't explain all the risks before my surgery?
You may have a claim if your doctor didn't fully explain risks or alternatives. This applies if you were harmed by an undisclosed risk.
What if I signed a consent form before my procedure?
Signing a consent form doesn't stop you from filing a malpractice claim. It only shows you agreed to treatment, not that care was proper.