What is a Malpractice Claim?

A malpractice claim is a suit against a medical professional for the harm caused by negligent diagnosis or treatment. To prove medical malpractice lawsuits, you must prove that your doctor strayed from the standard of care that is accepted.

Patients must also show that negligence by the doctor directly triggered their injuries. This requires evidence like medical bills and pay stubs as well as expert testimony.

Duty of care

A doctor is obliged to perform their duties in accordance with the medical standard of care. This means that they have to treat patients the same way as doctors with the same type of training and experience would do under similar circumstances. If a physician fails to meet the standard of care, and a patient gets hurt, they may be held accountable for negligence.

The standard of care may differ from one medical professional to the next, depending on a myriad of factors. For instance, certain doctors have a greater responsibility to inform patients of the dangers associated with certain treatments or procedures than others. The standard of care can also differ based on the nature of the relationship between doctor and patient. For instance, a physician who sees a patient in an emergency has an obligation to care for them more as compared to a physician who sees patients in a regular doctor-patient relationship.

It can be difficult to determine the appropriate standard of care if a malpractice claim has been filed. An experienced attorney can assist. Generally, expert witnesses are used to provide insight into the standards of care in a particular instance. The majority of people lack the knowledge and skills or the education needed to establish the level of care based upon a medical treatment. Expert witnesses can assist the court in determining if doctors, or any other medical professional is not up to the standard of care.

Breach of duty

Doctors and other medical professionals owe patients a duty to provide them with fair, competent medical care. If medical professionals fail to perform their obligation, they could have committed a malpractice. Most of the time, this means not adhering to the accepted medical standard of care. A broken arm, for instance is required to be x-rayed properly and then set properly before it can be placed in a cast. If a doctor does not adhere to this procedure it could result in an infection, complete or partial loss of arm use and other complications.

A medical legal expert can help you determine if a healthcare professional has not met the standards of care that apply to your particular condition. This is known as breach of duty and is one of the most important aspects in a malpractice case. You must demonstrate that the healthcare provider's actions or inactions fell short of the standard care for your condition, and caused harm to you.

This requires evidence by an expert witness, who can clarify how the healthcare professional's actions or inactions violated the standards of treatment for your condition and resulted in your suffering injury. Your lawyer will examine all documentation and medical records including any expert witness testimony or evidence.

Damages

In a malpractice lawsuit, damages compensate the victim for any losses he/she suffered because of the medical provider's negligence. The damages can be either economic (lost wages and future medical costs) or non-economic (pain & suffering). The amount of damages that a person could be able to recover will depend on the laws of the state where his or her case is filed.

The majority of physicians in the United States carry malpractice insurance to safeguard themselves from legal claims arising from malpractice. Some hospitals require them to have malpractice insurance as a condition for hospital privileges, or by their employers. Certain medical professionals are covered under group malpractice coverage. Despite these protections the majority of malpractice cases will have to go through the courts.

Medical negligence can cause serious injuries that could have long-term effects on the patient's health. This can result in loss of income as a result of the absence of work, as well as an increase in medical costs and treatment costs. Certain kinds of medical negligence may cause permanent injury or even death.

A doctor can be held liable for malpractice if the party who was injured is able to prove that the incident wouldn't have occurred if the patient had been aware of the risks that come with the procedure. This standard of proof is called "more likely than not" and is less rigorous than the standard in criminal cases which requires a more rigorous standard of evidence.

Statute of limitations

A statute of limitation is like a legal stopwatch that counts down the length of time you must bring a lawsuit. This period is based on state laws and can vary widely based on the kind of case and when it was discovered.

Some medical injuries are immediately visible, such as broken legs or a head injury that is traumatizing. Certain injuries may take a few months or years to become apparent. The statute of limitations for malpractice claims often starts when the victim discovers or should have been aware of the negligent act or failure to perform the act that caused the injury.

This approach is referred to as the discovery rule, and it allows patients who might not have realized of a medical error to pursue malpractice claims after the standard time limit has expired. Some states use a pure discovery rule, while others have hybrid rules for discovery that include a limit or cap on the time frame that a patient must have to discover an injury.

If you or someone you love was injured as a result of medical malpractice, call an attorney immediately. Our law firm is available for free consultations, and there is no cost unless we succeed in your case. To find out more about a potential malpractice claim, hover over a state on the map below or click a link to learn about the current laws.