The Lasting Impact of Medical Malpractice on Patients

Medical malpractice represents a significant breach of trust between healthcare professionals and their patients. Physician negligence doesn’t solely cause immediate physical harm; it leaves a lasting imprint on the victims, affecting their psychological health and financial stability.

We at Rossman Law Group would like to explain the lasting impacts of medical malpractice on patients to underscore the critical importance of patient safety and advocacy.

Physical Effects

The physical harm caused by medical malpractice often depends on the nature and severity of the negligence involved.

Misdiagnosis or Delayed Diagnosis

Should a patient’s doctor fail to diagnose their condition correctly and in a timely manner, that condition is likely to worsen over time. This deterioration may lead to severe discomfort, lasting disability, or even death in extreme cases.

Surgical Error

Many patients experience immediate physical harm when their surgeon makes a mistake in the operating room. Intense pain and post-surgical infections are common in those who suffer from this form of malpractice. Also, the surgeon’s negligence often necessitates additional surgeries to correct the mistake.

Prescription Error

When a healthcare provider prescribes the wrong medication or dosage, it can cause adverse reactions, toxicity, or ineffective treatment of the patient’s condition. In some cases, this can result in permanent physical damage or life-threatening illness.

Psychological Effects

While the psychological toll of medical malpractice is often overshadowed by bodily illness or injury, those effects can be just as debilitating as the physical ones.

Patients who have experienced medical malpractice may feel a profound sense of betrayal since they placed their trust in a healthcare professional, only to have that trust broken. As a result, they may avoid seeking medical help in the future, even when they direly need it, which puts their health at further risk.

Other psychological aftereffects of malpractice include:

• Depression and loss of interest in life
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Mental stress stemming from financial hardship
• Persistent feelings of anxiety and fear

If you are struggling emotionally after an ordeal you believe to be medical malpractice, contact a physician negligence attorney and tell them your story.

Financial Effects

When a patient experiences medical negligence or malpractice, the costs associated with additional treatments and interventions often fall upon them. Further surgeries, medications, rehabilitation services, and long-term care can contribute to insurmountable medical bills.

Patients who survive medical malpractice often face significant loss of income, as they are unable to work during illness and recovery. This loss of earning capacity may be temporary or permanent, often resulting in financial instability and adding to the victim’s stress and anxiety.

The lasting impact of medical malpractice on patients extends beyond physical harm. Malpractice doesn’t just represent a lapse in professional conduct; it has profound implications for the quality of life of those affected. If you have recently suffered illness or injury due to a healthcare provider’s negligence, contact the team at Rossman Law Group for a legal consultation free of charge.