Because you depend on your healthcare provider to protect your wellbeing, any mistake on their part can have a significant impact on your health. However, not every treatment that does not achieve the desired result can be the basis of a medical malpractice suit. When might you be able to take legal action against a negligent healthcare provider?
Was your doctor negligent?
When providing medical care to patients, physicians, nurses and other medical professionals owe their patient a “duty of care.” This means that doctors must live up to the standard set by other doctors in their field of medicine. Doctors may differ in their approaches and interpretation without breaching this standard, but they have to exercise the degree of skill and care that other doctors would employ in their own practice.
Failure to align with that standard of care can come in a variety of different forms, including:
- Not informing patients of potential side effects of treatments or medications
- Prescribing the incorrect medication or an incorrect dose
- Failure to diagnose a disease or medical condition
- Surgical errors like operating on the wrong body part or failing to provide the care the patient needed after surgery
- Making errors in administering anesthetic
In addition, this negligence must have caused harm to you or your loved one. This harm can involve medical conditions worsening due to lack of treatment, further injury, pain and emotional distress.
Speaking to an attorney may offer clarity.
If you wonder whether the harm you suffered could be grounds for a medical malpractice case, you may want to discuss your experience with an attorney. They can help you explore your options and determine whether a claim can help you hold your healthcare provider responsible for their error.