It can be tricky to trust someone else to care for your child. However, with medical issues, parents must trust doctors and medical professionals.
Doctors have a legal duty of care to all patients, especially children. As they are not fully developed physically, treating medical conditions in children can be delicate. Unfortunately, pediatric medical malpractice can occur sometimes. Here are some common examples.
Misdiagnosing meningitis
Meningitis is a serious condition that can threaten the lives of children. It is difficult to diagnose because it shares symptoms with multiple other conditions. However, doctors should always be on the lookout for it in young children.
Early diagnosis is everything when treating meningitis, and doctors should order lumbar punctures and other diagnostic tests as soon as they suspect meningitis. Failure to do so could result in brain damage, hearing loss and even death.
Wrong dosages
Children are much more sensitive when it comes to medications. Doctors must prescribe the appropriate doses of medicine when treating them. Giving an adult dosage to a child can cause serious health complications, and, depending on the drug, it can be fatal. Precision is everything when it comes to pediatric care.
Birth-related injuries
Childbirth has become much safer in recent decades, but there are still potential dangers. Doctors must monitor the mother and baby at all times during the pregnancy. One of the most common medical errors in childbirth is failing to perform timely c-sections. This can result in the baby and mother coming under unnecessary physical stress.
If your child has been harmed due to a medical error, personal injury compensation could be an option. Seek legal guidance to find out more about the law in this area.