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Medical Malpractice Reviewed After Woman Arrested for Posing as a Dentist

A woman was recently arrested in Georgia after it was discovered that she had been acting as a dentist and caused damage to several people’s teeth. Officers arrested the woman, Krista Szewczyk, in Cobb County for performing dental procedures without a license or formal training. She had been posing as a dentist for seven years or more with at least 18 victims. She faces 48 indictments for insurance fraud, practicing dentistry without a license, and forging prescriptions. Officials anticipate further charges will follow. This extreme example goes beyond medical malpractice, and shows how practicing medicine can become criminal.

While the above story may seem far-fetched, it happens more often than you might think. There are stories all over the internet of people faking medical and dentistry degrees and harming unsuspecting patients. This is a form of medical malpractice, although there are other types of malpractice that are much more common.

Types of Medical Malpractice

Nurses, doctors, and other medical professionals have a duty to meet a generally accepted standard of care. They must provide treatment in a way that a similarly licensed practitioner would have if they were under similar circumstances. Failure to practice in this manner may be considered medical malpractice. An experienced attorney can help you determine if your situation constitutes medical malpractice.

Medical malpractice may take several forms, and all of them can result in significant injuries and illness, or even death. Types of medical malpractice include the following:

  • Medication Errors. When someone prescribes or administers medication, an improper dose or an incompatible drug combination can cause serious reactions.
  • Surgical Errors. Although all surgical procedures have a certain degree of risk, sometimes surgery can result in medical malpractice. Surgical errors may include wrong surgery site, organ perforations, unsanitary instruments, and incorrect incisions, just to name a few.
  • Misdiagnosis or Failure to Diagnose. When we go see our doctor ,we expect him or her to diagnose our condition correctly. If a diagnosis or failure to diagnose was avoidable, you may be eligible for compensation if the negligence caused injuries.
  • Anesthesiology Errors. When a patient goes under anesthesia and someone makes a mistake, it can result in permanent and harmful effects. Anesthesia errors include allergic reactions, harmful drug interactions, and overdoses.
  • Birth Injuries. Sadly, even a newborn can be the victim of medical malpractice. When complications arise during the delivery process and medical professionals do not respond reasonably, serious and life-altering conditions, such as cerebral palsy, brain damage, and death can occur.

How an Experienced Attorney Can Help

The attorneys at Lankford & Moore Law have years of experience helping clients get the compensation they deserve if they have been the victim of medical malpractice. Because there is a statute of limitations, or time limit, to filing a medical malpractice claim, it is imperative that you consult with an attorney as quickly as possible. Contact our office today to schedule a consultation. We will help you determine if your situation might be eligible for compensation.

I realized the true function of a lawyer was to unite parties riven asunder. The lesson was so indelibly burnt into me that a large part of my time during the twenty years of my practice as a lawyer was occupied in bringing about private compromises of hundreds of cases. I lost nothing thereby — not even money, certainly not my soul.

Mahatma Gandhi

Lankford & Moore Law in Downtown Lawrenceville

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