Medical malpractice is one of the most complex and high-stakes areas of personal injury law. Patients trust doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals with their well-being—and when that trust is broken, the consequences can be devastating.
In Georgia, medical malpractice claims arise when a healthcare provider fails to meet the accepted standard of care, resulting in injury, illness, or death.
Thousands of patients are affected by preventable medical errors each year, but some types occur more frequently than others. Below, we break down the most common medical malpractice cases in Georgia and what injured patients need to know.
1. Misdiagnosis and Delayed Diagnosis
One of the leading medical mistakes is misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis. When a healthcare provider incorrectly identifies a condition—or fails to diagnose it in time—the patient may lose valuable treatment opportunities.
Commonly misdiagnosed conditions include:
- Heart attacks and strokes
- Infections
- Cancer (breast, lung, colon, and prostate)
- Pulmonary embolism
- Meningitis
- Lupus
- Thyroid conditions
- Sepsis
- Appendicitis
A delayed or incorrect diagnosis can allow a condition to worsen, cause complications, or even become life-threatening. If another reasonably competent doctor would have made the correct diagnosis under similar circumstances, the patient may have a valid medical malpractice claim.
2. Surgical Errors
Surgical errors are among the most serious forms of medical negligence. Although surgeries inherently involve risks, avoidable mistakes fall outside the acceptable standard of care.
Examples include:
- Operating on the wrong body part
- Leaving foreign objects inside the patient
- Performing the wrong procedure
- Anesthesia errors during surgical procedures
- Excessive bleeding or internal injuries caused by negligence
- Infections resulting from unsanitary surgical environments
These mistakes can lead to long hospital stays, additional surgeries, chronic pain, and life-altering complications.
3. Medication Errors
Medication errors are alarmingly common and can occur in hospitals, pharmacies, nursing homes, and outpatient clinics.
These errors often happen when:
- The wrong medication is prescribed
- The dosage is too high or too low
- A patient is given medication intended for someone else
- A provider fails to review a patient’s medical history for allergies or contraindications
Medication mistakes may lead to severe allergic reactions, organ damage, overdose, or ineffective treatment of the underlying condition.
4. Birth Injuries
Birth injuries can affect both mothers and newborns. Many arise from medical negligence during pregnancy, labor, or delivery.
Common birth-related malpractice claims include:
- Failure to recognize fetal distress
- Improper use of forceps or vacuum extractors
- Delayed C-section
- Negligent monitoring of the mother or baby
- Failure to treat maternal infections
- Oxygen deprivation (hypoxia)
These mistakes can result in significant, long-term conditions such as cerebral palsy, Erb’s palsy, developmental delays, or maternal injury.
5. Emergency Room Errors
Emergency rooms in Georgia are fast-paced and high-pressure environments. Even so, ER professionals must meet the standard of care. Errors often occur due to overcrowding, understaffing, or miscommunication.
Common ER mistakes include:
- Failure to properly triage patients
- Misinterpreting X-rays or lab results
- Medication mistakes
- Failure to recognize life-threatening symptoms
- Premature discharge
ER errors can worsen medical conditions that require immediate attention, such as heart attacks, strokes, internal bleeding, or infections.
6. Laboratory and Diagnostic Testing Errors
Accurate lab testing is essential for proper medical treatment. Errors may involve:
- Mislabeling blood or tissue samples
- Improperly performing diagnostic tests
- Lost or mixed-up results
- Incorrect interpretation of scans or laboratory work
A single mistake can lead to improper treatment, delayed care, or harmful medical decisions based on false data.
7. Failure to Obtain Informed Consent
Before performing a procedure, healthcare providers must explain the risks, benefits, and alternatives. When they fail to do so, patients cannot make fully informed decisions about their care.
If a patient suffers harm from a complication they were not warned about, they may have grounds for a malpractice claim—even if the procedure itself was performed correctly.
Contact Bowen Painter Injury Lawyers for a Free Consultation With a Savannah Medical Malpractice Lawyer
Medical malpractice cases are complex, time-sensitive, and require detailed investigation. For more information, please contact our experienced Savannah medical malpractice lawyers at Bowen Painter Injury Lawyers to schedule a free initial consultation today. We have a convenient location in Savannah, GA.
We proudly serve Chatham County, Georgia, and its surrounding areas.
Bowen Painter Injury Lawyers
308 Commercial Drive, Suite 100, Savannah, GA 31406
(912) 335-1909
Open 24/7
Our firm is located near you. We have an office in Savannah
Find us with our GeoCoordinates: 32.0047854, -81.1083488
About The Author
Attorney Andrew Bowen is a founding partner of Bowen Painter Injury Lawyers based in Savannah, GA. He earned his law degree from Mercer University’s Walter F. George School of Law in 1998, after completing his undergraduate studies at Washington and Lee University. Licensed to practice in Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina, Andrew is also admitted to the federal courts in Georgia and South Carolina, the Court of Federal Claims in Washington, D.C., the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court. With over 25 years of legal experience focusing exclusively on personal injury and wrongful death cases since 2001, ranging from medical malpractice and automobile wrecks to commercial truck and motorcycle accidents. Andrew has established himself as a formidable advocate attorney in the Georgia community; his dedication to personally overseeing each case ensures that clients receive individualized attention and aggressive representation. Click here to view some of the exceptional case results Andrew has helped secure on behalf of injured clients.
Location: Savannah, GA
