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Knoxville Laboratory Error Attorney

Lab tests play a critical role in an accurate and timely diagnosis. Lab work also can show whether a treatment is working or whether a doctor and her patient should change course. Sadly, many errors can happen with lab work which end up delaying necessary treatment or preventing a patient from getting well.

At Atkins Brezina, PLLC, our Knoxville laboratory error attorney is ready to assist anyone who believes that medical malpractice is preventing their recovery. Contact our firm to learn more.

Examples of Laboratory Errors

Any mistake in the administration of a test or the interpretation of test results can undermine the integrity of the health profession. Our clients are often injured by:

  • Contamination of blood samples or other specimens
  • Paperwork errors
  • Mislabeling of samples
  • Wrong test performed
  • Delayed reporting of results
  • Lost test results

A patient might not immediately know that there has been a laboratory error. In fact, these errors are often hard to catch. However, a patient might simply know that they are not responding to treatment or that they have not heard from their doctor in quite some time.

Why Lab Errors Happen

Labs are regulated by both state and federal laws. In addition, many labs have adopted regulations to ensure the swift and accurate reporting of results. Unfortunately, many labs violate these standards on a daily basis.

Lab errors have many causes, but some of the more common include:

  • Data processing errors
  • Poor paperwork collection
  • Understaffing and overwork
  • Improper supervision
  • Negligent hiring of lab staff
  • Chemical abuse from staff

Most labs process hundreds of results each day—sometimes much more. Some errors are bound to happen. But careless labs make more errors than is necessary, and patients suffer as a result.

How a Laboratory Error Leads to Injury

Lab errors are in many ways just as serious as diagnostic errors. They can delay the administration of life-saving treatment. For example, if a sample is mislabeled, then a patient with cancer might be told they are cancer-free, thus delaying treatment. Meanwhile, a patient who does not have cancer might end up taking chemotherapy or having invasive surgery.

When a lab delays reporting its test results, or if there is a paperwork screwup, patients do not receive timely treatment. Their condition can actually worsen to the point where they need much more radical (and expensive) medical care.

In other cases, a patient might have treatment they otherwise wouldn’t have. If a laboratory result tells a mother her baby has a genetic defect, for example, she might choose to abort it. But if the lab result is wrong, then she has lost a child because of the lab’s error.

Victims of laboratory errors should receive compensation for:

  • Medical expenses
  • Lost income
  • Pain and suffering
  • Loss of consortium
  • Wrongful death (if a loved one died)

Speak with a Knoxville Laboratory Error Lawyer Today

Atkins Brezina, PLLC can assist anyone victimized by medical malpractice seek the compensation they are entitled to. Please call our firm to learn more about legal remedies available.

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