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Accident & Personal Injury Attorneys

What Does Medical Malpractice Involve?

Medical malpractice is a problem that occurs when a health care professional or doctor does not provide the correct treatment, does not take proper action needed in a medical situation, or provides substandard treatment when a quality treatment option is available to the patient. Failure to provide the correct, quality treatment can lead to the patient being harmed, injured, or even the patient’s death under the professional’s care. 

Medical malpractice is essentially a medical error that could be prevented. This error could occur ding diagnosis, treatment, providing the correct medication dosage, or even in the aftercare of a procedure. If you feel that you have been the victim of medical malpractice, contact an attorney that focuses on medical malpractice harrisburg pa

Why Do You Need an Attorney?

Situations that involve medical malpractice make it possible for a patient that is harmed, or their families, to receive financial compensation to help cover future medical expenses and accommodations. Each year there are more than 15,000 and 19,000 medical malpractice lawsuits pursued in the United States. The guidelines for medical malpractice lawsuits vary from state to state, and country to country. 

Defining Medical Malpractice

At the very base of the healthcare field is built on a standard of care. Standard of care outlines how patients should be cared for and the treatment efforts that should be carried out by the doctor. Each type of medical professional is held to a different standard of care based on the minimum skills they are required to have. Because the skills for each level of health care professional varies depending on their job description, and practicing medicine is not an exact science, a professional is not always held liable for all harm that can come to a patient while they are being treated. 

What Leads a Provider to Be Guilty of Malpractice

To be guilty of malpractice, and be held responsible legally, the patient must experience an injury or harm because they deviated from the quality of care that would be expected from a provider in similar situations. For a doctor to be guilty of malpractice, a number of different factors must be provable. These factors include the following. 

Failing to Provide Basic Standard of Care

The law provides that all health care professionals be qualified to have a minimum qualification, and also adhere to the standard of care for their education and certification level. Any health care professional that does not provide within the standard of care can potentially face accusations of negligence and be charged with medical malpractice. 

A Patient is Injured as a Result of Negligence

Even if a patient feels that their provider was negligent, but they do not suffer any harm or injury, a medical malpractice claim cannot be claimed. A patient must prove that without negligence, the injury would not have occurred. The injury caused by the provider’s negligence must result in considerable damage. There are a number of other factors to take into consideration and these are typically considered on a case by case basis. If you have any questions about whether your situation qualifies as medical malpractice, consult a malpractice attorney today.

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