Doctors have a legal duty to provide patients with medical care consistent with the standard of care. When they breach this duty of care and harm a patient, they can be held financially responsible for the resulting damages. However, holding a medical provider responsible for their carelessness can prove difficult without the help of an experienced Lower Merion Township medical malpractice attorney. Morris Wilson Knepp Jacquette, P.C., offers free consultations to prospective clients to discuss their legal rights and options. Contact us today for yours.
What Is Medical Malpractice?
Not every negative health outcome is medical malpractice. Medical malpractice occurs when all of the following apply to your case:
- You had a doctor/patient relationship with the defendant, which establishes the standard of care.
- The healthcare professional deviated from the standard of care, which is the care that another healthcare provider in the same specialty and geographic area would have provided under similar circumstances.
- The doctor’s deviation from the standard of care caused you harm.
- You suffered damages as a result of the doctor’s actions, such as additional medical expenses or lost income.
In most Pennsylvania medical malpractice cases, plaintiffs need a medical expert who can testify about the relevant standard of care, the deviation from it, and the causal link between that deviation and their damages. The experienced legal team at Morris Wilson Knepp Jacquette can help you navigate this complex legal process and
Common Mistakes That Lead to Medical Malpractice
Unfortunately, medical malpractice can take many forms and harm patients in various ways, including:
- Misdiagnosis: A misdiagnosis occurs when a healthcare professional diagnoses a patient with a condition that they don’t actually have, potentially subjecting them to unnecessary or potentially harmful medical treatment.
- Failure to diagnose: A failure to diagnose occurs when a medical professional fails to identify a patient’s condition, preventing the patient from receiving the medical treatment they need.
- Delayed diagnosis: Unlike a failure to diagnose, a delayed diagnosis ultimately results in an accurate diagnosis. However, there has been an unnecessary delay that could have harmed the patient, such as a delayed diagnosis of cancer.
- Surgical errors: Surgeons have considerable training and experience, yet they still make mistakes that can harm patients, including nicking organs or failing to properly monitor the patient during surgery.
- Anesthesia errors: Anesthesia enables patients to undergo surgery and other medical procedures without being conscious or experiencing pain. However, if the anesthesiologist gives too much or too little anesthesia, the patient can suffer considerable harm.
- Medication errors: Medication errors can occur when a healthcare provider prescribes a dangerous medication, fails to check for interactions with other drugs, or gives the wrong dosage, harming the patient.
Contact an Experienced Medical Malpractice Lawyer Today to Schedule Your Free Legal Consultation
Were you or a loved one harmed due to a doctor’s careless mistake? If so, a Lower Merion Township medical malpractice lawyer from Morris Wilson Knepp Jacquette, P.C., can review your situation during a free consultation and explain your legal rights and options. Contact us today to get started.