Types Of Medical Negligence As Per The Australian Law

The doctor is treated like a God. We expect doctors to provide full care to the patients while treating them. It sometimes becomes difficult for doctors to treat patients while dealing with various personal as well as emotional distress in their day-to-day life. 

This distress may lead to the mistreatment of the patient. But this excuse cannot save the doctor’s innocence. The doctor should know how to deal with personal as well as professional problems and at the same time provide the best treatment to the patients. 

It is very much difficult to discover that the patient got mistreated because of the doctor’s medical negligence. There are various causes of Medical Negligence but in this article, we are going to discuss types of Medical Negligence –

1. Misdiagnosis –

Misdiagnosis is a type of medical negligence. As we know, Diagnosis is the first step in treating the patient. If the doctor or medical professional makes a mistake in diagnosing the patient the chances of mistreatment or wrong treatment will be high. Resulting in patient injury or death of the patient. So, 

2. Surgical Negligence –

Surgery is the most difficult form of treatment. The risk of injury is high in surgery. We read in newspapers that doctors left scissors or any other surgical equipment inside the stomach of the patient while performing abdominal surgery. This is a case of medical negligence and the doctor should be held liable for the injury to the patient.

3. Anaesthesia –

Anaesthesia is part of every kind of surgery. The surgery may be minor or major, Anasthesia should be given initially. If this is not given properly and the patient wakes up in between the surgery, There will be chances of injury or life-threatening event. Not giving Anaesthesia is one type of Medical Negligence.

4. Prescription Negligence –

Prescription negligence is another type of medical negligence. This world is loaded with many human diseases. Doctors should prescribe medicine before knowing the complete medical history of the patient. If medicine reacts there will be chances of the rise of other medical complexities. 

5. Long-Term Medical Treatment –

Some diseases require long-term treatment with time-to-time observation. The doctor should maintain a record of the individual patient’s treatment. The doctor should schedule interval appointments with the patient to get the disease cured. If the doctor forgets the previous treatment and every time starts a fresh treatment there will be a chance that the patient gets mistreated or may get injured because of this.

6. Birth Injury –

The life of two i.e. mother or children is at stake while doing pregnancy or birth surgery. The doctor should tell a family member of the mother or child that after this surgery there will be life time medical complexities either for the mother or child.

7. Dental Negligence –

Another type of medical negligence is Dental Negligence. Specialized dental doctors treat patients’ dental problems. As it is an oral treatment, the doctor should follow proper sanitation to avoid infection. Failing to do so may lead to dental injury.