Examples Of Errors That Can Trigger Laboratory Medical Malpractice

Doctors and hospitals are frequent targets of medical malpractice claims. However, any medical professional or facility can be guilty of medical malpractice. For example, errors that originate from a medical laboratory can trigger malpractice claims. Below are a few examples of such errors.

Testing Delay

Your health might suffer in several ways if a laboratory delays the necessary test. Below are some consequences of a test being delayed:

• You won't get your test results and start your treatment in time, which can allow your medical condition to fester
• Your test samples might get stale and produce the wrong results

For example, blood specimens should not sit for many hours before centrifugation. Otherwise, the test results might become inaccurate.

Wrong Test

Medical malpractice can also arise if the laboratory conducts a test that the doctor did not order. Consider a case where a doctor orders glucose and oxygen levels in the blood. However, the laboratory tests for pathogens, such as bacteria.

In such a case, the doctor won't get the results they wanted because the results won't reveal your glucose or oxygen levels. The inappropriate results might lead to a delay in your diagnosis, and the doctor might order another test to get the right results. All this time, your medical condition will only continue to worsen.

Result or Sample Mix-up

Problems can also arise in the laboratory if someone switches your samples or results. Say a laboratory has two blood samples – one to test for pregnancy complications and another for a viral infection. A mixed-up means neither party will get their accurate result. Again, that might lead to a delay or wrong treatment, which can trigger further medical complications.

Sample Contamination

Contamination of test samples with foreign substances is another possible cause of laboratory medical malpractice. Contamination might occur if:

• Samples from different patients accidentally mix. An example of this is if two blood samples mix.
• A sample from a patient mixes with a foreign substance that is not a necessary a sample. An example is if water spills onto your blood sample.

Laboratory technicians must keep samples isolated and secure to prevent contamination. Laboratories have sample handling and storage procedures to ensure that is the case. Anyone who doesn't follow the laid down procedures might be guilty of medical malpractice if contamination occurs and cause your medical condition to worsen.

Interpretation Errors

Some laboratory tests require interpretation before they get back to the doctor. For example, a test that requires a laboratory technician to examine a blood sample with a microscope may require the technician to interpret the results. In such a case, the interpretation's accuracy will determine the result's accuracy.

Sample Loss

As previously mentioned, proper handling and storage of laboratory samples are necessary for prompt and accurate tests. A laboratory that loses track of a sample can trigger multiple effects with the loss.

Say you produce a blood sample for an overnight test and then go back home. You have to schedule another test if the laboratory loses your sample. That might be disastrous for you if you have a medical condition that requires prompt management.

Inaccurate Records

Lastly, a laboratory might also err when it does everything right, from sample collection to testing, but then fails to record the test properly. Such a mistake might arise due to miscommunication between laboratory technicians. An example is if one technician reads something out but the second one transcribes something different.

You deserve compensation for your injuries after a medical malpractice, irrespective of the person responsible. Higinbotham & Higinbotham, PLLC can help you assess the situation, determine the liable party, and help you recover your damages. Contact us for a free initial consultation to evaluate your case and determine the way forward.