It’s natural for people to trust their doctors with their health. Unfortunately, sometimes this trust is betrayed and people are harmed because of it. Below are six things you should know about medical malpractice.
1. What Is Medical Malpractice?
Medical malpractice occurs when a medical professional does not uphold the standard of care for his or her field when providing healthcare. The betrayal of that standard of care must have also produced some kind of tangible injury or damages for the patient.
2. What Is the Standard of Care?
The standard of care is determined by what other professionals in a doctor’s field would have done under the same circumstances. For example, if a doctor performs a routine procedure incorrectly that would have been performed correctly by any other doctor with that specialization, the standard of care has been broken.
3. Is Injury Always Evidence of Medical Malpractice?
A poor physical outcome for a patient could be the result of medical malpractice, but it isn’t always evidence in and of itself. Certain medical procedures hold an inherent amount of risk. If the medical professional upheld the standard of care and did not act negligently, malpractice did not occur even if the procedure was not successful.
4. Why You Should Contact an Attorney
If you suspect you were the victim of medical malpractice, you should certainly contact an attorney that specializes in this area of the law. Malpractice can result in serious injuries, disabilities, medical bills, lost income and a loss in the quality of life. Compensation found in a court room can’t heal all wounds, but it can certainly help.
5. What You Can Do to Prevent Medical Malpractice?
As a patient, it’s hard to stop a medical professional from acting negligently when providing you with care. However, you can make it less likely by becoming educated on your condition as well as the treatment you are going to receive.
6. Why Do Some People Choose Not to Seek a Medical Malpractice Suit?
In some cases, patients may not be aware they were the victims of medical malpractice. A lot of trust is given to doctors. It’s sometimes hard to believe they could be negligent. This is why having your case reviewed by an attorney is a good idea.
Overall, medical malpractice can result in serious harm to patients and their families. It’s sad that doctors sometimes do not uphold their oath. Thankfully, the civil court system exists to help victims of medical malpractice.
Informational credit to McLaughlin & Lauricella, P.C.
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