Doctors and health care providers are required to provide their patients with a medical “standard of care” that remains consistent across similar treatments in similar communities. Medical negligence occurs when a doctor or health care professional deviates from that expected standard, which puts their patient at risk of injury.
Medical negligence becomes medical malpractice when a patient’s injury is a result of the doctor or health care provider’s lack of expected care. Read about the difference between medical malpractice and medical negligence.
In order to determine if your case qualifies as medical negligence ask yourself: “Would a similarly skilled health care professional have provided me with the same treatment under the same, or similar, circumstances?”
If your answer is no, you may have experienced medical negligence.
Just because a doctor or medical professional made a mistake in your care or treatment does not mean you will have a medical malpractice case. The patient must have sustained an injury as a direct result of that mistake.
Some examples of medical negligence include:
- Misdiagnosis
- Perform the wrong procedure
- Fail to provide proper aftercare
- Fail to prevent infection
- Make anesthesia errors
- Surgical errors
- Improper medication
In order for a medical negligence case to qualify for a medical malpractice claim, it must meet the four elements of medical malpractice: duty, dereliction, direct cause, and damages.
If you have questions about whether you have experienced medical negligence or malpractice, seek the help of an experienced West Palm Beach, Florida personal injury attorney who can assist you in determining if your situation warrants legal action, and how to proceed if so.
Ted Babbitt, Florida medical malpractice lawyer, has decades of experience holding medical professionals and institutions accountable for their negligence. He has obtained several multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements for victims of medical malpractice. His team will give you an honest assessment of your case and explain your legal options. Fill out this online form or call today – (561) 375-2841.