Patients expect the utmost quality of care from their doctors. When they or any other health care professionals fall short of those expectations, patients and their families can face long-term suffering.
When a doctor’s negligence results in a patient’s severe injury or death, some patients may choose to file a medical malpractice claim against their doctor or a hospital.
Defining medical malpractice
Medical malpractice occurs when a doctor, hospital or other health care provider injures a patient through a negligent act or omission. However, small missteps or undesired outcomes aren’t always enough for a patient to pursue a claim. Depending on the circumstances, patients typically must prove that their injuries are a direct result of clinical negligence.
If patients want to develop a case, they must show that their injuries resulted in:
- Long-term or permanent disabilities
- Loss of income or expensive medical bills
- Substantial suffering and hardship
What are some examples of medical malpractice?
It can happen in a variety of ways. Here are a few examples of negligence that could result in severe long-term damage to a patient:
- A doctor misdiagnoses a patient with the wrong condition
- A doctor misreads or ignores results from a patient’s lab test
- A doctor gives a patient the wrong medication or wrong dosage of medication
- A medical professional fails to look into a patient’s medical history
- A medical professional fails to order the proper tests for a patient
- A medical professional fails to recognize symptoms
- A hospital does not hire adequate staff
- A hospital discharges a patient before they’re ready to leave
Patients deserve exceptional care from providers
Assessing if you’re a victim of medical malpractice can be difficult. As the employment relationship between doctors and hospitals is often complicated, figuring out who is liable for your injuries can be confusing. Luckily, patients can benefit from the assistance of an experienced and diligent medical malpractice attorney.
