Medical malpractice is a serious issue, and one of the most important aspects of a medical malpractice case is proper review of medical records. Without an accurate and comprehensive review, it can be difficult to determine if any negligence or misconduct occurred. Medical record reviews are an important part of any medical malpractice case, and they should include all relevant records related to the claim. In this post, we will discuss some common medical malpractice claims that require extensive medical record review. We’ll also cover why it’s important to have a qualified professional perform the review in order to ensure accuracy and completeness.
What are the different Types of Claims?
There are many different types of medical malpractice claims, but some of the most common involve errors in diagnosis or treatment. To determine if there is merit to a claim, an attorney will often request a complete copy of the patient’s medical records. This request is usually made after the client has signed a medical release form authorizing the attorneys to review the records.
One common type of claim involves a delay in diagnosis or treatment. This occurs when a doctor orders treatment for a condition but does not follow up to make sure it is carried out properly. For example, a doctor may order that a patient with high blood pressure be given medication to lower it, but if the doctor does not follow up to make sure the medication is taken as prescribed, the patient could suffer serious consequences such as a stroke.
A third type of claim is for misdiagnosis. This happens when a doctor incorrectly diagnoses a condition, resulting in either unnecessary treatment or no treatment at all for the true condition. For example, a woman who goes to her doctor complaining of fatigue and weight gain may be incorrectly diagnosed with depression and given medication when she actually has thyroid problems.
Another common type of claim is for failure to treat. For example, a patient who comes to the emergency room with chest pain may be sent home without being properly diagnosed with a heart attack. If the patient later suffers a heart attack and dies, the family may have a claim for wrongful death against the hospital.
What is Medical Record Review?
Medical record review is the process of examining a patient's medical records to determine if there are any potential issues that could lead to a medical malpractice claim. This can be done by a medical expert, or by someone with experience in reviewing medical records.
There are many potential issues that can be uncovered during a medical record review, including:
- Incorrect diagnoses.
- Delayed diagnoses.
- Failure to properly treat a condition.
- Misdiagnosis of a condition.
- Improperly performed procedures.
- Incorrect medication prescribed.
These are just some of the potential issues that could be discovered during a medical record review. If any of these issues are found, it could lead to a medical malpractice claim.
The Importance of an Experienced Medical Record Reviewer
As anyone who has been the victim of medical malpractice will tell you, the importance of an experienced medical record reviewer cannot be overstated. Medical malpractice claims can be very complex, and often require a detailed review of medical records in order to identify potential areas of liability.
An experienced medical record reviewer will know how to identify key information in medical records that could potentially support a claim of medical malpractice. For example, they will look for evidence of negligence on the part of the doctor or other health care provider, such as failure to properly diagnose a condition or failure to follow standard protocol for treatment. They will also look for any red flags that may indicate that the patient was not given all relevant information about their condition or treatment options.
In addition to identifying potential areas of liability, an experienced medical record reviewer can also help to assess the strength of a claim by looking for mitigating factors that could reduce the amount of damages that may be recoverable. For example, if the patient knew of their condition but chose not to seek treatment, this could limit their ability to recover damages for pain and suffering.
Conclusion
Medical malpractice claims can be complex and require a thorough review of the medical records to determine if the claim is valid. This article outlined common types of medical malpractice claims that may require a record review, such as misdiagnosis, failure to diagnose or treat, medication errors, surgical mistakes, birth injuries and other forms of negligence. Knowing how an independent medical record review works will help you better understand how lawyers investigate these kinds of claims and potentially help you receive compensation for any damages incurred due to professional negligence. Additionally, hiring an expert medical record review expert like ITCube BPO. will help legal firms properly carry out a claim request and increase their chances of success.