Medical malpractice is unfortunately a common issue, and patients’ lives are often permanently changed because of it. When a medical professional fails to provide adequate care to a patient, it can have devastating consequences that they may not be able to recover from. As a medical malpractice lawyer like one from David & Philpot, P.L. tells you, proving a medical malpractice claim is full of complexities that the average person is not prepared to handle. When you are going up against a clinic or hospital with powerful legal teams of their own, you need a lawyer whose experience can match up. These are some of the basic things that you need to know if you are wondering what qualifies as medical malpractice.
Incorrect Diagnosis
If a patient is sick or injured, it is crucial for a doctor to provide an accurate diagnosis quickly. The wrong diagnosis can lead to a sharp decline in health or fatal consequences. If you have been incorrectly diagnosed by a doctor and have developed, contact a medical malpractice lawyer so they can assess your case.
Improper Care
Adequate care is essential for a patient to recover from an illness, disease or injury. Examples of insufficient care include not receiving medication on time, incorrect lab results, lack of food, and not being moved periodically, such as if a patient is bedridden. When a medical worker like a doctor or nurse does not provide sufficient care when they owe a duty of care to a patient, and the patient’s health deteriorates, they can be sued for medical malpractice.
Failure to Disclose Risks
It is a doctor’s responsibility to thoroughly explain the risks of a medical procedure or medication to a patient. This is necessary to do because the patient needs to be aware of all potential risks and have complete information before deciding to consent to a procedure. The patient could experience a negative reaction to a certain medication. If they do not, they can be pursued for negligence.
Prescription Error
Since the basic requirements for filing a medical malpractice claim vary from state to state, you should talk to a lawyer so you can find out what the law says about filing valid claims. You need to be able to prove that the doctor had a duty of care for you, that they failed to carry out their duty and that their actions led to your harm. A medical malpractice lawyer can help you through each of the many steps of a claim so you have everything you need to move forward. Contact a skilled medical malpractice lawyer if you need legal assistance with the claims process.
