What Is a Medical Malpractice Claim?

A medical malpractice claim is filed by an individual who is unhappy with the carelessness of a healthcare professional. The patient (or his or her estate in the event of death) must prove that the negligence resulted in injury or harm.

Lawsuits alleging medical malpractice are usually filed in state trial courts. To prevail in a lawsuit the aggrieved party has to demonstrate four legal elements:

Duty of care

In any legal matter, the plaintiff has to prove that a person or entity had a legal obligation to care, and they failed to fulfill this duty. In medical malpractice cases this is the physician's obligation to provide their patients with a proper standards of treatment. Expert testimony is usually used to determine this.

Expert witnesses can help determine the appropriate medical standards and then explain how a doctor was not following the standards in their treatment of the patient. A plaintiff's medical malpractice attorney must prove that the error was directly at fault for the injury suffered by the victim.

Expert testimony is vital, as most jurors have only a basic understanding of anatomy and have watched many medical dramas. In medical malpractice claims, this is particularly important since it can be difficult to establish a standard of care. In the context of a medical malpractice case, the standard of care is referred to the degree of skill as well as the quality of treatment and the level of diligence displayed by other physicians in similar areas of expertise in similar circumstances.

The majority of experts in medical malpractice cases are fellow physicians or surgeons who have the same training and board certifications. Due to the "conspiracy of silence" among a number of doctors (a term lawyers use to describe the tendency of doctors not to be able to testify against each other) It isn't easy to find an expert with the right qualifications to defend a colleague against sub-standard care.

Breach of duty

When a doctor commits an error that harms the patient, it is medical malpractice. The mistakes could cause new injuries or make existing ones worse. Medical malpractice claims are complicated laws and issues, making them difficult to prove. However, a qualified medical malpractice lawyer will analyze the circumstances of your case and determine if the doctor has breached his or her duty to the patient.

Your attorney will determine if there was a doctor-patient relationship between you and your doctor, which is necessary in any malpractice claim. Your attorney will review the actions and decisions of your physician to determine whether the standards of care in your state for doctors with similar training, background and geographical location is fulfilled.

Doctors owe it to their patients to observe these standards without omission or deviation. A breach of duty implies that the doctor medical malpractice didn't meet your expectations and resulted in injury.

It is easy to prove the breach of duty by using experts and your attorney's investigation. Experts can testify that the doctor's actions did not meet the standard of medical care and provide reasons why a different medical professional would have acted differently in similar circumstances. Your lawyer must also tie the breach of duty with your injuries and damages. Your attorney will examine your medical records, test and prescription results, imaging scans, and prescriptions to create a strong case that the breach of duty committed by the doctor directly contributed to your injuries.

Causation

Medical errors can increase the dangers of a wide range of treatments. To prove causality, the injured patient must demonstrate an immediate connection between the alleged negligence of the doctor and the injury. In many cases this requires expert testimony and the help of a medical malpractice lawyer.

Medical errors can be the misdiagnosis of serious illnesses or conditions. A doctor's inability to recognize cancer or any other medical condition may have serious implications for patients. In this situation, the patient may experience inexpensive suffering and possibly even death. In the absence of diagnosing the condition correctly the doctor could have committed a mistake.

Proving that a doctor or hospital did not treat you properly can be difficult and time-consuming. Evidence could come from a variety sources, such as medical records and test results, as well as expert witness testimony and depositions. Your attorney can assist you in obtaining and understanding the evidence, as well as assisting you during the process of depositions.

It is crucial to remember that only healthcare professionals are liable for malpractice. Contrary to receptionists at medical facilities, doctors and nurses must act in accordance with the current standards of care. Medical professionals must be able to predict the consequences of his or qualifications and education.

Damages

In medical malpractice cases, courts hear about monetary damages that are designed to compensate the patient who was injured. These damages can be based on future or past medical bills and lost wages as well as pain and discomfort, disfigurement or loss of enjoyment living. Punitive damages may be awarded in some cases. These are awarded only to the most egregious of actions that society would like to discourage.

A medical malpractice case typically begins with filing a civil summons or complaint in the court. The parties then begin discovery. This is a procedure that requires both parties to make statements under oath. This can include requesting the exchange of documents like medical malpractice attorneys records, taking depositions from parties involved in the lawsuit and conducting interviews with witnesses.

One of the most important elements to prove in a medical malpractice case is that the doctor had the legal obligation to provide medical treatment and care to the patient. The second thing to prove is that the doctor did not fulfill that duty by failing to follow the medical standard of care. The third factor is that the breach resulted in injury to the patient.

It is crucial to understand that the statutes of limitations (the legally prescribed time period within which a lawsuit for medical malpractice has to be filed) differ from state to state. In New York, the statute of limitations is two years and six months (30 months) from the date on the date that the underlying cause of medical malpractice took place.