You Should Know What Qualifies as Medical Malpractice

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Medical malpractice is a horrible thing to deal with, as it often results in the impairment or death of a loved one. Doctors are entrusted to take care of patients, and medical malpractice breaks that trust and puts lives in jeopardy. However, not all medical deaths or problems stem from malpractice, and it's important to recognize what qualifies as medical malpractice. Before you rush to call malpractice lawyers in PA to represent you, study up on the different types of medical malpractice and the conditions that must be met for malpractice to occur. 

Misdiagnosis

One of the most common forms of medical malpractice stems from misdiagnosis. When a doctor gets a diagnosis wrong, the patient will likely not get the required treatment for their ailment. Not all instances of misdiagnosis result in medical malpractice, but if there is gross misconduct then it will definitely qualify. For example, if a doctor fails to see obvious clinical signs of an ailment, doesn't go through with standard testing, or does not refer the patient to a specialist for further investigation, then you have a good case to prove medical malpractice.

Surgical Errors

Surgery is a scary prospect, and patients trust doctors to give their bodies the right amount of care. Although many things can go wrong in surgery, there are a few surgical mistakes that a doctor can make that would qualify as malpractice. For example, making blatant mistakes like operating on the wrong part of the body and performing the wrong type of surgery are gross instances of malpractice. Other instances of surgical malpractice include failure to follow established surgical procedures and leaving tools and surgical equipment inside the patient's body. All these instances can be avoided through the competence of medical professionals, meaning they qualify as malpractice. 

Wrong Treatments

After diagnosing you with an ailment a doctor will go over potential treatment options with you. If a doctor recommends the wrong treatment for your ailment, then it could be a case of medical malpractice. However, simply prescribing the wrong treatment isn't enough for malpractice, it has to be grossly wrong and against common wisdom. When a doctor does something like this it puts the patient at risk for many reasons. First, the problem will likely go untreated and worsen since the prescribed treatment won't be effective. Additionally, most treatments have side effects, so a doctor could be exposing you to side effects from a treatment you don't even need. 

Failure to Disclose Risks

If a doctor is discussing potential treatments and surgical options with you, they are required to disclose all the risks associated with that treatment option. Some treatments come with major life-altering side effects. These side effects can include illness, injury, and even death. Some people may decide to undergo treatment anyway, but others may opt-out based on potential risks. However, if your doctor fails to fully disclose the dangers of treatment and one of the side effects ends up happening, you could have a case of malpractice on your hands. Patients deserve the right to be informed and the ability to make well-educated decisions for their own health. 

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