Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare professional, such as a doctor or a nurse, makes an error that negatively effects the health and well-being of a patient in his or her care. Although it is very difficult to successfully prove malpractice, there are many situations in which an injured patient can bring a claim. Some of the most common reasons doctors are sued include incorrect diagnoses, failure to provide appropriate treatment, childbirth injuries, errors in prescribing medications and inadequate pre- or post-operative care.
Why do doctors and other healthcare professionals get sued?
There are many reasons patients file lawsuits against medical professionals and attempt to seek compensation for medical errors. Perhaps the most common reason patients sue is because the physician who made the mistake fails to fully explain what occurred, and how he or she can correct the problem. Communication is key and many patients simply want their treating healthcare provider to inform them about what went wrong, and how it can be fixed.
Different types of medical mistakes lead to different results. For example, when an appropriate diagnosis is not made in a timely manner, and the patient, as a result, does not receive the treatment he or she needs, more severe symptoms or complications can result. Another common issue is when a doctor fails to prescribe the right medication, which an cause side effects and can delay recovery. Birth injuries due to negligence also happen with some frequency, leading to deficits and complications for the newborn.
What should you do if you or a loved one is the victim of medical malpractice?
All of these situations require experienced legal representation to navigate. If you believe you have experienced medical malpractice and you want to seek compensation for the injuries you received due to negligence, contact an attorney to have your potential case reviewed. That attorney may wish to read your medical records and may send them out to an expert witness to evaluate whether the healthcare professional did something wrong. A qualified attorney can advise you of your legal rights, which will improve your odds of receiving fair and just compensation for your injuries, emotional distress, medical bills, lost wages and other possible damages you have suffered.
