Medical malpractice is one of the most serious kinds of personal injury because it encompasses so many different problems. Medical malpractice is so serious because it could end up exacerbating an existing medical condition or leave a condition undiagnosed, so it ends up getting worse. Many other potential problems could be caused by medical malpractice, many of them life-threatening. Since medical malpractice falls under the personal injury umbrella, victims of that act have a right to receive compensation from the healthcare provider or medical facility responsible for the malpractice. However, that is easier said than done.
The reason is that medical malpractice is not always easy to prove, and the party responsible for the malpractice could have considerable resources they use to fight back against the victim. That is why a Pittsburgh medical malpractice attorney recommends that medical malpractice victims hire a lawyer to represent them. Their lawyer will take care of the case while they recover or get the treatment they need in the first place.
What Is Medical Malpractice?
Medical malpractice is when a healthcare provider or medical facility fails to follow standard procedures when taking care of a patient. This is not the same thing as a doctor being unable to help a patient after doing everything they can for them. No doctor or surgeon is expected to have a 100% success rate, and they should not be punished if they cannot help a patient. Medical malpractice is when the medical provider makes easily avoidable mistakes due to negligence.
Examples Of Medical Malpractice
There are many different types of medical malpractice, and some of the most common are as follows:
- Surgical Errors - This can include operating on the wrong body part or leaving surgical equipment inside the patient.
- Misdiagnosis - This is when a doctor fails to diagnose the problem ailing a patient. This could lead to the problem getting worse while it goes untreated.
- Prescription Errors - This could be the doctor prescribing the wrong medication, or prescribing the right medication, but in the wrong dosage. The doctor must also consider how the medication might interact with other medicines the patient is already taking.
- Childbirth Mistake - A mistake during childbirth could put the mother, the baby, or both in danger.
- Anaesthesia Errors - Too much or too little anaesthesia could cause problems for the patient during the operation.
- Poor Aftercare - After a patient gets the operation or treatment they need, they should get proper care to ensure their recovery progresses properly. If they don’t receive the right aftercare, they could suffer from other problems like infections or bleeding.
Why Medical Malpractice Attorneys Are Important
It is not always easy to prove medical malpractice because the doctor or the doctor’s lawyer might claim that any medical problems you have were caused by a different source. They might also state that the problem is a pre-existing condition that had nothing to do with your treatment. Furthermore, a doctor and the healthcare facility for which they work could have vast resources available to fight claims of medical malpractice. Some doctors will have medical malpractice insurance, but not all of them will. For the doctors with malpractice insurance, their insurance company might be reluctant to offer a payout, which means there is yet another obstacle to the patient’s settlement.
All of these reasons are why a malpractice attorney is so important. They can gather the necessary evidence to prove that the healthcare provider was negligent in your treatment and they are willing to take on the doctors, attorneys, and insurance companies that are standing between you and a fair settlement. An attorney will also accurately calculate your damages so you have an accurate total of the compensation due to you. And if the malpractice case ends up in court, then your attorney will represent you to the best of their ability. These are just some of the reasons why an attorney is vital if you are a victim of medical malpractice.
