A Personal Injury Attorney Explains Medical Malpractice
As citizens of the United States, we have an expectation that we can trust the medical professionals that work in our healthcare system. Doctors, nurses, and other professionals must complete varying degrees of education and training in order to serve in the healthcare field. Very specific medical standards of care have been determined to prevent patients from experiencing medical malpractice. Despite these systems and standards, however, medical malpractice does occur. A personal injury attorney works to ensure justice for victims of medical malpractice and to place pressure on medical professionals to act with the utmost caution and integrity. Here are a few things you should know about this very specific component of tort law.
What is Medical Malpractice?
Put simply, medical malpractice is a personal injury in which a healthcare provider acts negligently by providing treatment that is below the “recognized standard of care.” The action or inaction of the healthcare provider must result in verifiable and serious injury for the claimant to have a case. The claimant must also be able to demonstrate an obvious connection between the negative medical outcome and the negligence of the healthcare provider.
For example, a physician who mistakenly and carelessly prescribes an incorrect prescription to a patient can be charged with medical malpractice if the action is deemed negligent and is clearly connected to a negative medical outcome. It is important to remember that negligence has to be a factor if a claim is to be considered medical malpractice.
How Common is Medical Malpractice?
Medical malpractice is much more common than most people realize. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association (AMA), in fact, it is the third leading cause of death in the U.S. On average, one medical malpractice claim is resolved every 43 minutes.
How Can a Personal Injury Attorney Help Me?
If you believe you have been the victim of medical malpractice, you may be feeling helpless and abused by the system that you once trusted. Navigating personal injury law and gathering evidence to support your claim can be incredibly complex and overwhelming, however, and it is especially overwhelming when one’s health has already been wrongfully compromised. An experienced and knowledgeable personal injury attorney can make all the difference in a court case. Injury lawyers understand the language, precedence, and restrictions associated with tort law, and they can help clients get the compensation they deserve.
El Paso’s Leading Personal Injury Attorneys
At the Aranda Law Firm, our primary goal is to fight for justice on behalf of our clients. Personal injuries can sometimes unjustly get swept under the rug, but we are committed to helping victims of negligence recover from and overcome personal injuries such as medical malpractice. If you have questions about your specific claim or would like more details from our experienced legal team, don’t hesitate to contact us today!
