Medical malpractice cases can be the most difficult to litigate since they tend to involve both medicine and law issues. Unfortunately, medical malpractice is more widespread than most people realize. The Journal of the American Medical Association revealed that the third leading cause of death within the USA is medical negligence. Only heart disease and cancer cause more deaths.
The best way to prevent harm from medical malpractice is to become a strong health advocate for yourself or a loved one. Ask questions about your care. Don’t be afraid to get a second opinion. Discuss prescribed medications with the pharmacist.
What Is Medical Malpractice?
A medical malpractice case concerns professional negligence and substandard care by a professional health care provider causing harm, injury or death to the patient. In most cases, the medical malpractice involves:
* A medical error, such as a wrong diagnosis
* An incorrect medication or dosage
* Inadequate health management, treatment or follow-up care
Medical malpractice can also happen because nothing was done, according to an experienced medical malpractice lawyer in Boone County, IL.
Did the Patient Receive Competent Care?
Not all deaths or harm can be attributed to medical malpractice. Doctors and other medical professionals are not all-powerful or all-knowing. There can be a bad outcome for a patient who received the best care possible.
The critical factor is determining whether or not the care that the patient received was what a competent doctor would have provided in a similar situation. A doctor is legally responsible for delivering competent care. Doctors or other medical professionals are not legally bound to deliver world-class care, but if they provide substandard care, patients are legally entitled to compensation for the harm done to them.
Elements of a Medical Malpractice Case
These elements must be in place in a successful medical malpractice lawsuit.
* Was there a doctor-patient relationship?
* Did the care fall below the accepted medical standard?
* Did this substandard or negligent care cause harm to the patient?
* What quantifiable harm or damages has the patient suffered?
Crosby Law Firm has been serving the legal needs of Rockford, IL and the surrounding region since 1980. If you believe that you or a loved one has been harmed by medical malpractice, put an experienced medical malpractice lawyer in Boone County, IL to work for you. Contact us today to schedule an appointment for a free consultation to discuss your case.
