What Is Considered Medical Malpractice in Houston, Texas?

In Houston, medical malpractice can occur in various forms, each with the potential to cause significant harm to patients. Understanding the most common types of medical malpractice can help you recognize if you or a loved one has been affected. Here are some of the most frequent issues that lead to medical malpractice claims:

Surgical errors are among the most serious types of medical malpractice. These mistakes can occur during surgery or even in the pre- or post-operative stages. Examples of surgical errors include operating on the wrong body part, leaving surgical instruments inside the patient’s body, or performing the wrong procedure entirely.

These errors can lead to infections, organ damage, and sometimes even life-threatening conditions. For instance, a surgical sponge left inside a patient could cause severe complications and require additional surgeries. In some cases, patients might suffer permanent disabilities due to nerve or muscle damage caused by an avoidable mistake during surgery. A lawyer specializing in medical malpractice can help determine whether the error resulted from negligence and build a case for compensation.

Misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis is another common form of medical malpractice in Houston. This occurs when a healthcare provider either fails to correctly identify a patient’s condition or takes too long to make the proper diagnosis. A delayed cancer diagnosis is a typical example—early detection can be crucial for successful treatment, and a delay could significantly reduce a patient’s chances of recovery.

Misdiagnosis can also involve identifying the wrong condition altogether, which might lead to unnecessary treatments that carry their own risks, or failure to treat the actual illness. For example, if a patient with heart disease is misdiagnosed with anxiety, they may not receive the life-saving treatments they need. Proving this type of malpractice often requires expert testimony to show that a competent doctor would have correctly diagnosed the condition under similar circumstances.

Birth injuries are particularly devastating, as they can have lifelong consequences for both the newborn and the parents. These injuries can occur during pregnancy, labor, or delivery, and they often result from improper monitoring, failure to perform a timely C-section, or mistakes made during the delivery process.

Examples of birth injuries include cerebral palsy, Erb’s palsy, and brain injuries caused by a lack of oxygen. These conditions can lead to physical and developmental challenges that may require long-term medical care. In many cases, families face significant financial and emotional burdens as they seek the best care for their child. If you suspect that your child’s injury was due to medical negligence, consulting a Houston medical malpractice lawyer can help you explore your legal options.

Medication errors occur when patients are prescribed the wrong medication, given the incorrect dosage, or experience dangerous interactions between prescribed drugs. These mistakes can happen at any stage, including when a doctor writes a prescription, when a pharmacist fills it, or when a nurse administers medication in a hospital.

For example, a nurse might administer a dose of medication that is too high for a patient, leading to an overdose. Alternatively, a doctor might prescribe a medication that interacts negatively with another drug the patient is taking, causing harmful side effects. Medication errors can result in severe reactions, organ damage, or even death. Proving this type of malpractice usually involves showing that the healthcare provider failed to follow standard protocols when prescribing or administering the medication.

Anesthesia errors can be particularly dangerous, as they occur when a patient is under sedation and unable to communicate. These errors might include administering too much or too little anesthesia, failing to monitor the patient properly during the procedure, or not considering a patient’s medical history before selecting the type of anesthesia.

Complications from anesthesia errors can include brain damage, nerve injuries, or even death. In some cases, patients may wake up during surgery due to insufficient anesthesia, a condition known as “anesthesia awareness,” which can be a traumatic experience. If such errors occur, they may be grounds for a medical malpractice claim, especially if they resulted in significant injury or trauma.

Sometimes, doctors correctly diagnose a condition but fail to provide adequate or timely treatment. This is known as “failure to treat” and can involve discharging a patient too soon, not ordering the right tests, or neglecting to refer the patient to a specialist when needed.

For example, if a doctor correctly identifies a patient’s heart condition but fails to prescribe the necessary medication or lifestyle changes, it could lead to severe complications. Similarly, if a patient with a serious infection is sent home from the hospital without proper instructions or follow-up care, their condition could worsen significantly. These failures can have a profound impact on a patient’s health and quality of life.

In some cases, the hospital itself can be held liable for medical malpractice. This can include situations where understaffing, lack of training, or poor communication between hospital staff leads to patient harm. For example, if a hospital does not properly maintain its equipment, and that results in an error during a medical procedure, the hospital may be held accountable.

Hospitals are also responsible for ensuring that their staff follows proper procedures and safety protocols. If a patient suffers harm because a hospital failed to do so, a medical malpractice claim might be appropriate.