Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice is defined as a hospital, doctor, or medical professional’s failure to meet an expected standard of care by acting incompetently, negligently or maliciously. Medical malpractice is not uncommon in the United States. Approximately 80,000 deaths per year are thought to be the result of negligence or wrongdoing in the medical field. Medical malpractice can occur in any medical or healthcare field in which injury is caused by a breached standard of care.
A common type of medical malpractice is birth injury. Birth injury can be the result of a doctor’s mistake or negligence prior to, during, or after the birth, resulting in injury or the death of a child. Common birth injuries caused by medical malpractice are fetal anoxia, shoulder dystocia, maternal or fetal infection. Cerebral palsy is one of the more serious birth injuries that can be caused by medical malpractice.
Surgical errors are another common form of medical malpractice. While there are risks associated with any surgical procedure, there is a reasonable expectation in medicine that your surgeon will provide you with quality care. Surgical errors may occur because of negligence, wrongdoing, or mistake in the process of the operation, or any steps leading up to or following the surgery. Surgeons are considered liable when they do not meet the reasonable standard of care expected.
Nursing home abuse is unfortunately one of the fastest growing forms of medical malpractice in the United States. Approximately one-third of nursing homes today have reported cases of abuse. Nursing home abuse not only constitutes physical abuse, but also emotional, verbal, financial, psychological, and sexual abuse and neglect. Any form of neglect or abuse in a nursing home or patient care facility is considered medical malpractice.
There are many other types of medical mistakes, neglect and wrongdoings that may make you eligible for a medical malpractice lawsuit. Other types include prescription error, failure to diagnose, and wrongful death, among others. In order to prove a medical malpractice case, you must show that your injury is the result of a mistake made due to the negligence or wrongdoing of a medical professional.
It is important to know that all medical malpractice cases are subject to a statute of limitations, which limits the time you have to file a case. An experienced attorney can be helpful in familiarizing you with these and other laws regarding your medical malpractice case.
If you or a loved one has been a victim of medical malpractice, you may be entitled to compensation for your pain, suffering and losses. Contact us today to speak to a qualified medical malpractice attorney regarding your case. Our experienced legal professionals will evaluate your case free of charge and help you establish the best way to protect your interests and maximize your claims.