What is Medical Malpractice? And How Should You Report It?

Doctors and medical practitioners are the people we should trust most in society. They’re highly trained, and we rely on them to diagnose and treat what we value most: our health.

Sometimes, things don’t go as planned. Maybe a diagnosis is missed, or a doctor makes a mistake, which results in severe injury or even death.

It’s essential to understand what medical malpractice is and what you should do if you’re a victim.

What is Medical Malpractice?

Medical malpractice occurs when a physician or licensed medical professional breaches their professional standard of care and causes a patient harm. It may result from a mistake or an intentional deviation from the standard of care all doctors are expected to uphold.

 

How to Know if You Have a Medical Malpractice Case

The most essential part of medical malpractice cases is proof. There are three primary benchmarks for determining if malpractice took place.

First, it’s critical to prove the physician violated their professional standard of care, which can be an incredibly high bar.

Second, it must be clear that the physician’s negligence caused you harm. There would be no malpractice case if you didn’t sustain injury due to their care.

Finally, the damages must be significant enough to warrant pursuing the case.

 

What Should You Do if You Think You’re a Victim?

If you or a loved one believe you have sustained injuries as a result of medical malpractice, contact an attorney to see if your claim could potentially meet the above criteria.

Also, know that many, but not all, potential medical malpractice claims carry a two-year statute of limitations. This means that your claim must either be resolved or a lawsuit must be filed within two years of the date the potential harm first occurred or from when the harm was first known or should have been known.

Our team has worked on many medical malpractice cases. These cases are complex, and the situation is even more daunting if you’re dealing with recovery. Contact us for a free consultation to see if your case should be pursued.