If you believe that a doctor or hospital has harmed you in terms of health, it can be hard to know where to start with your case. You may have questions about what kind of healthcare or legal compensation is available. In this article, family medical law expert Dr Francene Gayle will explain what patients need to know about medical law to give them an advantage when medical malpractice occurs.
Medical Law Is Complicated With Numerous Types Of Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice refers to any kind of medical negligence committed by a doctor, nurse, hospital, or other healthcare providers. This malpractice can be intentional or unintentional, as it could also happen when there was no intention to cause harm but the care provided was negligent nonetheless.
So when you’re injured by someone else’s actions or lack thereof, you have the right to seek compensation for your injuries through medical malpractice litigation.
Understand The Difference Between A Medical Injury And A Medical Mistake
As a medical care recipient, you need to understand the difference between a medical injury and a medical mistake. A medical injury is an actual physical injury caused by a health care provider, such as a doctor or nurse.
For example, if you break your arm after being treated at an emergency room, that’s considered a medical injury because it happened during treatment and not before or after it. Meanwhile, an unintentional error on the part of the doctor Dr Francene Gayle may result in harm, but not necessarily be considered medical negligent behavior on their part. This is referred to as malpractice or professional negligence.
Patients Should Contact An Attorney If They Suffered Harm Due To Medical Negligence
Finally, if you believe that you have been injured by a health care provider, or if your injuries were caused by mistakes made during medical treatment, then you may contact an attorney as soon as possible, or file complaints with the local health department. Patients should be aware of these options to make informed decisions about how best to handle their medical cases and seek the right compensation.
