Did you know New York has the most medical malpractice claims out of every state in the US?
Being sick or having symptoms that you don’t understand is hard enough without having to deal with a careless medical provider.
What is the medical negligence definition, and what are the signs of medical malpractice? When is it time to talk to an attorney?
Keep reading below to learn about medical negligence and when it is time to contact an attorney.
Table of Contents
What Is Medical Negligence?
Medical negligence is a legal term that means a healthcare professional (or healthcare facility) has caused harm to a patient through negligence or lack of action.
If you have a medical malpractice claim, you have to be able to prove medical negligence that caused an injury for the claim to be valid. Not all medically negligent acts will lead to harm, so this is an important distinction to make.
As professionals in the field, medical personnel have a duty to patients to always perform to the best of their ability and with the patient’s care in mind. They must provide treatments within the medical standard of care.
1. Your Medical Condition Gets Worse
Is misdiagnosing grounds for a lawsuit? What if your doctor makes a simple mistake that leads to the wrong treatment?
The first reason you would want to contact a lawyer is if your medical condition becomes more problematic after treatment.
If you’re getting medical care, you should start feeling better. If this incident has made your health much worse or has even caused permanent problems for you, then you definitely have grounds for a medical malpractice claim.
2. Your Doctor Won’t Provide Answers
To get the medical care you need, you have to be able to talk with your doctor openly and honestly.
It is important that your doctor is willing to give you the answers you need for any questions you might have about your symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, or anything else.
Do you feel like your doctor is simply ignoring you or neglecting you? If so, you should talk with an attorney about your options. Check out this blog post for some tips on hiring the right attorney for these types of cases.
3. There Was an Error During Your Treatment
Doctors may make mistakes like all humans, but making serious mistakes during treatment, surgery, or procedures can be a life or death situation.
If your doctor made a mistake that caused you to have more issues, you should discuss this situation with a lawyer. You may have experienced negligence that will impact your future risk of pain, injury, complications, or discomfort.
Some of the most common mistakes that doctors make are:
- Using equipment that hasn’t been properly sterilized
- Damaging a blood vessel or organ accidentally in surgery
- Supplying the wrong amount of medication
Now You Know the Medical Negligence Definition
As you can see, the medical negligence definition is not hard to understand. Doctors and healthcare professionals know what is expected of them. They know their duty of care.
If you have found that a healthcare worker has been less than professional with you and you have experienced harm by their actions, it is important to contact a lawyer as soon as you can.
Are you interested in learning more about topics like this? If so, be sure to take a look at more of the helpful articles on the rest of our site.