Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare professional fails to provide an acceptable standard of care, resulting in harm to a patient’s physical and mental health. Victims of this need to get the justice that they deserve, as in severe cases, it can be life-altering, having serious effects on the person’s emotional well-being, their ability to live their everyday life, and financial consequences. However, it’s important to understand what medical malpractice is and what isn’t, as not all medical mistakes count as medical malpractice. All patients have the right to receive safe and competent treatment, and be aware of the right signs, so if it happens to you or someone close to you, you can take the right steps, whether that be contacting a medical malpractice solicitor.
This article aims to help patients recognise possible signs of medical malpractice and understand what to look for if they believe something has gone wrong.
What is medical malpractice?
Medical malpractice is the lack of care from a medical professional that a reasonably competent practitioner would provide in the same situation, resulting in harm to the patient. Every healthcare provider, whether that be in a hospital or by a cosmetic surgeon, has a duty of care, meaning that they are legally and ethically obligated to act in the patient’s best interests. Malpractice is the act of this duty being breached through error, omissions or just general negligence. The key term when discussing malpractice is ‘harm’, meaning that there must be direct harm or injury caused by the healthcare professional’s actions. Understanding these key facts about medical negligence can help patients to distinctly recognise whether they have been a victim or not, avoiding any disappointment or confusion.
Common examples of medical malpractice
There are many types of medical practice, therefore here is a list to help you spot the signs:
- Misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis
- Surgical error
- Medication or dosage mistakes
- Failure to obtain informed consent
These failures can affect patients severely in many ways, such as a surgery that goes wrong, meaning that a person is in pain, can not go back to work and is left distressed, meaning there was mental, physical and emotional harm.
Signs that you may have experienced medical malpractice
If you think that you may have experienced medical malpractice, there are a few signs that you can look out for; some may not have been obvious at the time, but they may mean that you have been a victim of medical malpractice. Here are a few examples:
- Unexpected complications
- Conditions worsening despite treatment
- Lack of explanation or poor communication with the medical staff
Question the care that you have received may feel weird at first; however, understanding what and why something has happened is reasonable and important, especially if you have a gut instinct that something feels wrong.
What to do if you suspect malpractice?
- Seek a second medical opinion from another medical professional.
- Keep a record of all treatments and communications.
- Seek legal professionals such as Been Let Down.
