We all know how important it is to keep our health in check. Eating the right food and getting enough exercise can help in maintaining our health. We also have to visit the doctor for regular health checkups and ensure that we are in tip-top shape. But what if our healthcare providers are the ones who cause our health mishaps?
Unfortunately, medical malpractice happens, which results in endangering a patient’s life instead of making it better. It can be a traumatizing experience if this happens to you or to someone you know. In worst cases, it can lead to the untimely death of a person. In case of injuries due to medical malpractice, you can ask a personal injury lawyer in Salt Lake City to help you with your situation.
What is medical malpractice?
As mentioned, medical malpractice happens when healthcare specialists fail to provide the proper treatment to make a patient feel better. Instead, it can worsen a patient’s medical condition and even cause death in the worst cases. Medical malpractice can happen during a diagnosis, incorrect medication dosage, post-operation care, and more.
In the USA, it is said that there are around 15,000 and above cases of medical malpractice filed against various doctors and medical personnel annually. It can be traumatizing to experience the effects of medical malpractice. Also, it can put the medical profession in a negative light. Specifically, medical malpractice involves the following factors:
- The healthcare provider fails to adhere to the standard level of medical care the patient should receive (ex. using unsterilized equipment during a surgery or operation, performing a critical medical procedure without having a proper medical license to do so, etc.)
- The medical care provider has been proven to have inflicted injury, whether accidental or intentional, to the patient as a result of negligence (ex. misdiagnosis, incorrect medication dosage, discrimination, etc.)
- The patient has or is experiencing physical, mental, emotional, or financial burdens due to the effects of medical malpractice.
What can the patient do in the event of medical malpractice?
If the patient has suffered some injury as a result of medical malpractice, you can file a case and get compensation.
1. Punitive damage
This type of case involves seeking punishment for medical personnel or establishment for improper conduct. This can include proving that a patient was harmed purposefully by using specific medical procedures (ex. overdosage of medications, improper patient handling, etc.)
2. Special damage
This can involve a patient suffering from financial constraints due to incorrect diagnosis and medical processing. The patient was not able to pay for medical bills and medications due to missed days at work (ex. the patient has suffered vision problems or mobility issues due to malpractice, which affected his or her work performance).
3. General damage
This usually refers to seeking compensation from the medical provider due to the physical or emotional impact on the patient’s life.
Everyone has the right to have a good and healthy life; no one should deprive you of that. However, it is also your right to sue the person or institution that has caused you pain and affected your quality of life. In such cases, you need a lawyer to back you up.