Glossary Definitions

General Medical Malpractice

  • Certificate of a qualified expert
    A document required in some cases where a medical expert confirms that malpractice likely occurred.
  • Costs of caring for injured children
    The long-term medical, educational, and daily living expenses required when a child suffers harm from medical malpractice.
  • Damages in medical malpractice wrongful death cases
    Compensation available to surviving family members when medical negligence leads to a patient’s death.
  • Expert testimony in medical malpractice cases
    Evidence provided by medical professionals to explain how malpractice occurred and its effects.
  • Legal considerations when a spouse passes away
    The specific rights and claims available to surviving spouses in malpractice wrongful death cases.
  • Medical fraud / Medical intentional harm
    When a healthcare provider deliberately misleads, bills for unnecessary treatment, or intentionally harms a patient.
  • Medical malpractice / Medical negligence
    When a doctor, nurse, or other healthcare provider fails to meet accepted standards of care, causing injury or harm to a patient.
  • Medical malpractice claims arising out of the use of artificial intelligence
    Cases where errors from AI-driven diagnostic tools or treatment recommendations contribute to patient harm.
  • Professional negligence
    Another term for malpractice — when professionals, such as doctors, fail to provide proper care.
  • Settlements in medical malpractice cases / Damages available in medical malpractice cases
    The money a victim may recover through negotiation or trial, which can include medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
  • Trials in medical malpractice cases
    The process of presenting evidence before a judge or jury to prove negligence and seek compensation.
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Improper Treatment & Delayed Care

  • Improper treatment / Delayed or incorrect treatment
    When a patient receives the wrong type of care, or care is given too late, causing their condition to worsen.
  • Improper treatment of burn injuries / Burn malpractice
    Negligence in diagnosing, treating, or following up on burn injuries, which can result in infections, scarring, or long-term disability.
  • Improper treatment of infectious disease
    Failing to properly diagnose or manage infections, leading to serious illness or complications.
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Amputation

  • Amputation malpractice / Amputations resulting from medical malpractice
    When medical negligence causes an unnecessary amputation, delays treatment that would have saved a limb, or causes surgical errors during amputation.
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Specialty / Provider Errors

  • Chiropractor malpractice / Chiropractic injury
    Injuries caused by negligent spinal adjustments or other chiropractic treatments.
  • Healthcare provider error
    A broad term covering mistakes made by any licensed medical professional.
  • HMO misconduct
    Wrongful actions by Health Maintenance Organizations, such as denying necessary care or delaying treatment.
  • Kaiser medical malpractice
    Malpractice cases involving Kaiser Permanente facilities or providers.
  • Nursing malpractice / Physician assistant error / Inadequate supervision of CRNAs
    Failures by nurses, physician assistants, or nurse anesthetists when proper supervision or care is lacking.
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Cardiology & Vascular

  • Abdominal aortic aneurysms
    A bulge in the aorta that, if misdiagnosed or untreated, can rupture and cause fatal bleeding.
  • Acute limb ischemia (ALI)
    Blockage of blood flow to a limb, which requires immediate treatment to prevent amputation.
  • Aortic dissection / Aortic dissection malpractice
    Failure to diagnose or properly treat a tear in the wall of the aorta, which can be life-threatening.
  • Cardiology & heart surgery / Cardiology malpractice
    Negligence in diagnosing or treating heart conditions or performing cardiac surgery.
  • Compartment syndrome / Failure to diagnose compartment syndrome
    A dangerous condition where pressure builds in muscles, cutting off blood flow, often missed in emergency settings.
  • Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) / Failure to diagnose DVT
    Blood clots in deep veins, which can travel to the lungs and cause a pulmonary embolism if not properly managed.
  • Hemorrhagic stroke / Failure to timely treat stroke
    Errors in diagnosing or managing a stroke caused by bleeding in the brain.
  • Myocardial infarction / Failure to timely treat heart attack
    Medical negligence in diagnosing or responding to a heart attack.
  • Pulmonary embolism malpractice / Failure to diagnose pulmonary embolism
    Failing to identify or treat a clot in the lungs, often fatal if missed.
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Neurology & Brain Injury

  • Brain lesion misdiagnosis
    Failure to identify or properly treat abnormal tissue in the brain.
  • Cauda equina syndrome
    A serious spinal condition where delayed diagnosis or surgery can lead to paralysis.
  • Coma and injuries causing coma
    Medical errors leading to prolonged unconsciousness.
  • Necrotizing fasciitis
    A “flesh-eating” infection that must be diagnosed and treated quickly to prevent death.
  • Neurology malpractice
    Errors by neurologists in diagnosing or treating brain, spinal cord, or nerve conditions.
  • Nerve trauma
    Damage to nerves caused by surgical mistakes or poor medical management.
  • Osteomyelitis
    Bone infection worsened by misdiagnosis or delayed treatment.
  • Paraplegia or quadriplegia
    Permanent paralysis resulting from malpractice in spinal or neurological care.
  • Spinal cord injury / Spinal cord injuries
    Harm caused by malpractice during surgery, treatment, or missed diagnosis.
  • Spinal cord stimulator malpractice
    Injuries from improperly implanted or monitored spinal cord stimulators.
  • Spinal infection
    Missed or untreated infections in the spinal column.
  • Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
    Brain injuries worsened by delayed diagnosis or poor hospital care.
  • Undiagnosed internal bleeding
    Failing to detect internal hemorrhaging after trauma or surgery.
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Laboratory & Pathology Errors

  • Laboratory malpractice / Laboratory testing error
    Mistakes in lab work, such as lost samples, mislabeled results, or incorrect readings that delay or mislead treatment.
  • Pathology errors / Misread slides / Misread ultrasound / Misread x-ray / Misread imaging
    When pathologists or radiologists misinterpret tests or scans, leading to missed diagnoses or improper treatment.
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Infections

  • Bacterial meningitis / Failure to diagnose meningitis
    A severe brain and spinal cord infection that can cause permanent disability or death if not treated quickly.
  • Epidural abscess
    A spinal infection that can cause paralysis if not detected and treated right away.
  • Infections (general)
    Illnesses caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi that worsen when doctors fail to properly diagnose or treat them.
  • MRSA infections / Failure to diagnose a MRSA infection
    Dangerous, drug-resistant staph infections often acquired in hospitals or nursing homes.
  • Sepsis / Septic shock / Failure to diagnose sepsis
    A life-threatening reaction to infection when the body attacks its own organs and tissues, often missed in hospitals.
  • Staph infection
    A bacterial infection that can spread quickly and requires immediate treatment.
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Anesthesia

  • Anesthesia accidents
    Serious mishaps during anesthesia, including allergic reactions or airway blockages.
  • Anesthesia errors / Anesthesia malpractice
    Mistakes made during the administration of anesthesia that cause patient harm.
  • Anesthesiologist error / Anesthesiology error / Anesthesiology malpractice
    Failures by anesthesiologists to properly monitor vital signs, dosage, or patient response.
  • Anesthetic mismanagement
    Incorrect choice or amount of anesthesia, leading to complications such as brain injury, awareness during surgery, or cardiac arrest.
  • Over-administration of anesthesia
    Giving too much anesthesia, which can depress breathing or cause permanent brain damage.
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Medication Errors

  • CVS medication errors
    Pharmacy mistakes made at large retail chains, such as wrong prescriptions or dosages.
  • Dangerous drug interactions / Failure to identify a drug interaction
    Prescribing or dispensing drugs that interact harmfully, often preventable with proper oversight.
  • Dispensing the wrong medication / Improperly filled prescriptions
    Errors where patients are given the wrong drug or incorrect instructions.
  • Improper compounding errors
    Mistakes made when pharmacists mix custom medications for patients.
  • Medication errors / Medication malpractice
    General term for any mistake with prescription or administration of drugs.
  • Medication overdose / Failure to recognize medication overdose
    Prescribing or failing to catch unsafe dosages that can poison or kill a patient.
  • Medication sound-alike errors
    Confusing medications with similar names, resulting in the wrong drug being given.
  • Pharmaceutical errors / Pharmacy malpractice
    Broad terms for negligence in preparing or dispensing prescriptions.
  • Prescribing the wrong medication or dosage / Wrong medication
    Doctor prescribing errors that harm patients.
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Misdiagnosis & Delayed Diagnosis

  • Diagnostic errors / Failure or delay of diagnosis
    Broad terms covering mistakes in identifying illnesses, such as ignoring test results or misinterpreting symptoms.
  • Failure to conduct diagnostic testing / Failure to perform a biopsy
    Negligence in not ordering or performing necessary tests to confirm or rule out conditions.
  • Failure to obtain a blood type / Failure to obtain complete medical history
    Errors that put patients at risk during surgeries, transfusions, or ongoing treatment.
  • Failure to obtain informed consent (diagnostic context)
    Not explaining the risks of tests or procedures, leaving patients unaware of consequences.
  • False cancer diagnoses / Improper cancer treatment
    Either incorrectly diagnosing cancer where none exists or treating cancer in a negligent or harmful way.
  • Misdiagnosis / Missed diagnosis / Delayed diagnosis / Delayed or incorrect diagnosis
    When a healthcare provider fails to correctly identify a medical condition or takes too long to do so, causing harm or delaying needed treatment.
  • Misread imaging / Misinterpreted CT scans / Misreading diagnostic studies (CTs & MRIs)
    Radiology mistakes where scans are read incorrectly, leading to missed or wrong diagnoses.
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Cancer Misdiagnosis

  • Bladder cancer misdiagnosis / Failure to diagnose bladder cancer
    When warning signs like blood in the urine are ignored or test results are misread.
  • Brain cancer / Brain tumor misdiagnosis
    Mistaking tumors for migraines or other neurological issues.
  • Breast cancer / Breast cancer misdiagnosis / Failure to diagnose breast cancer
    Missing early signs such as lumps or abnormal mammograms, delaying life-saving treatment.
  • Cancer misdiagnosis (general) / Cancer FAQs
    Cases where cancer is missed, diagnosed too late, or misidentified as another illness.
  • Cervical cancer / Failure to diagnose cervical cancer
    Failures in Pap smears or follow-ups leading to advanced disease.
  • Colon cancer / Colon cancer misdiagnosis / Failure to diagnose colon cancer
    Negligence in ordering colonoscopies or misinterpreting test results.
  • Lung cancer / Failure to diagnose lung cancer
    Overlooking symptoms like chronic cough or failing to follow up on suspicious scans.
  • Other cancers (Leukemia, Lymphoma, Mesothelioma, Multiple myeloma, etc.)
    Failures in blood tests or imaging leading to missed early treatment.
  • Ovarian cancer / Ovarian cancer misdiagnosis / Failure to diagnose ovarian cancer
    Delays in identifying subtle symptoms that allow the cancer to spread.
  • Pancreatic cancer / Failure to diagnose pancreatic cancer
    Misreading imaging or failing to recognize symptoms of this aggressive cancer.
  • Prostate cancer / Prostate cancer misdiagnosis / Failure to diagnose prostate cancer
    Not ordering PSA tests or ignoring abnormal findings.
  • Rectal cancer / Failure to diagnose rectal cancer
    Overlooking bleeding, pain, or irregular screenings.
  • Skin cancer / Failure to diagnose skin cancer / Melanoma
    Misinterpreting or dismissing suspicious moles or lesions.
  • Trials in failure to diagnose cancer cases
    Court proceedings where evidence of delayed or missed cancer diagnosis is presented to secure compensation.
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Surgery & Surgical Errors

  • Cardiovascular surgery
    Errors in heart or blood vessel operations, which can lead to strokes, heart attacks, or death.
  • Failure to address post-surgical complications / Post-surgical negligence / Postoperative care failures
    Negligence in monitoring or responding to complications after surgery, such as infections or internal bleeding.
  • Foreign object inside the body / Retained surgical instruments
    Cases where sponges, tools, or other items are left inside a patient after surgery, leading to infections or additional surgeries.
  • Intubation errors / Airway malpractice / Intubation complications
    Errors in placing or managing breathing tubes, which can cause brain injury or death.
  • Laser spine surgery malpractice
    Negligence in minimally invasive spine procedures that leads to permanent nerve or spinal cord damage.
  • Neurosurgery malpractice / Pediatric neurosurgery malpractice
    Surgical errors in brain or spinal cord operations, often resulting in severe or irreversible harm.
  • Never events
    Serious, preventable surgical mistakes (like wrong-site surgery or leaving instruments inside the body) that should never occur if proper procedures are followed.
  • Organ damage during surgery / Organ perforation
    Accidental injury to surrounding organs during an operation.
  • Plastic surgery errors / Lasik eye surgery malpractice
    Negligence in elective or cosmetic procedures that cause disfigurement, blindness, or other complications.
  • Surgery malpractice / Surgical errors / Surgical mishap / Surgical complications
    Broad terms for mistakes during surgery that cause injury, such as cutting the wrong area, mishandling instruments, or failing to manage complications.
  • Surgical positioning errors
    Mistakes in placing a patient during surgery, which can cause nerve damage, pressure injuries, or impaired breathing.
  • Wrong procedure / Wrong site surgery
    When a surgeon operates on the wrong patient or wrong part of the body.
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Birth Injury

  • Birth defects / Genetic conditions (Down syndrome, Spina bifida, Tay-Sachs, etc.)
    Some conditions may not be preventable, but malpractice can occur if doctors fail to properly screen, diagnose, or counsel families.
  • Birth injury / Birth-related injuries to children and mothers
    Harm caused to a baby or mother during pregnancy, labor, or delivery due to medical negligence.
  • Cerebral palsy / Erb’s palsy / Brachial plexus injury
    Conditions often linked to difficult deliveries or misuse of forceps/vacuums that result in long-term nerve or muscle damage.
  • Delayed C-section / Waiting too long to perform a cesarean section
    Failure to timely perform a C-section in emergencies, leading to preventable injury or death.
  • Forceps delivery injuries / Vacuum extraction injuries
    Injuries caused when doctors improperly use birth-assisting tools, leading to skull fractures, bleeding, or nerve damage.
  • Hypoxia / Hypoxic brain injury / Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE)
    Brain injuries caused by lack of oxygen during birth, which can lead to lifelong disabilities.
  • Jaundice / Kernicterus / Hyperbilirubinemia
    Brain damage caused by untreated or poorly monitored severe jaundice in newborns.
  • OB/GYN negligence / Obstetrics malpractice / Midwife malpractice
    Failures by obstetricians or midwives to provide proper prenatal, delivery, or postnatal care.
  • Pitocin errors / Pitocin injury / Pitocin overdose
    Harm caused by improper administration of Pitocin (a drug used to induce or speed up labor), which can overstress the baby and mother.
  • Shoulder dystocia
    A dangerous delivery complication where a baby’s shoulder becomes stuck, sometimes causing nerve injuries if mishandled.
  • Stillbirth / Neonatal death
    Death of a baby before or shortly after birth due to medical errors in pregnancy monitoring or delivery.
  • Umbilical cord compression / Prolapsed umbilical cord
    Oxygen deprivation emergencies when the umbilical cord is compressed or delivered before the baby.
  • Uterine rupture / Rupture of uterus
    A life-threatening complication in which the uterine wall tears, often linked to improper labor management.
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Nursing Home Malpractice / Elder Neglect

  • Aspiration pneumonia / Choking death
    Breathing problems caused when food, liquids, or vomit enter the lungs due to lack of supervision.
  • Assisted living abuse / Assisted living facility negligence
    Similar to nursing home neglect but occurring in less medically intensive facilities.
  • Bedsores / Pressure sores / Stage IV decubitus ulcer / Kennedy terminal ulcer
    Painful, dangerous skin wounds caused by lack of movement and poor monitoring.
  • Brain bleeds / Subdural hematoma
    Serious head injuries often caused by falls or physical abuse.
  • Falls / Broken bones / Broken hip / Fractures
    Injuries caused by poor supervision, unsafe conditions, or lack of mobility assistance.
  • Hoyer lift drops / Wheelchair transfer injuries
    Accidents caused by improper use of equipment or lack of training during patient transfers.
  • Infections (pneumonia, UTIs, sepsis)
    Common but often preventable infections that become life-threatening when nursing staff fail to treat them properly.
  • Malnutrition / Dehydration
    When residents are not given enough food or water, leading to weakness, illness, or death.
  • Medication mistakes
    Errors in prescribing or administering drugs to elderly patients.
  • Nursing home malpractice / Nursing home negligence
    When staff or facilities fail to provide proper care, leading to injury, illness, or death of residents.
  • Patient wandering / Elopement
    When vulnerable residents leave the facility unsupervised, creating dangerous situations.
  • Physical attacks / Sexual assault & abuse
    Abuse by staff or other residents due to negligent supervision.
  • Significant weight loss / Unexplained injuries
    Signs of neglect or abuse that staff fail to report or address.
  • Wrongful death in nursing homes
    When neglect, abuse, or medical malpractice leads to the death of a resident.
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This glossary is for informational purposes only.

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