Medical malpractice happens when a hospital or health care provider fails to provide their patient with the legal standard of care any other person in the same profession would under the same circumstances. It is when a health care provider deviates from the established standards of medical practice and their negligent deviation causes their patient to suffer damages. Therefore, negligence is one of the primary elements of a medical malpractice lawsuit.
What are the consequences of negligence in the medical field?
Health care professionals can work long hours, especially when performing extensive surgery. Sometimes hospitals lack adequate staff and nurses must work overtime. Fatigue impairs a person’s ability to make sound judgments and prevents them from reacting appropriately to emergencies. However, fatigue is not the only reason a health care professional behaves negligently. They might be in a hurry or just plain careless. Here are some of the consequences of medical negligence:
- Accidentally leaving surgical equipment inside a patient’s body
- Failing to diagnose a patient
- Misdiagnosing a patient
- Failing to monitor a patient sufficiently
- Failing to obtain the patient’s informed consent
- Administering too much or too little anesthesia
- Medication and prescription errors
- Failing to conduct or order relevant medical tests
- Any other medical errors that cause a patient to suffer damages
- Wrongful death
In the medical field, professionals must perform their duties with a degree of astuteness because they treat and care for people with illnesses and disability. They should do everything they reasonably can to give their patient the best care possible.
Did a health care provider’s negligence cause you injuries?
If a health care provider’s wrongful action or inaction caused you to suffer damages, you should seek compensation. It might be hard to put a price on your pain and suffering, but their negligence is inexcusable, and you may be able to hold them accountable.