What Qualifies as Medical Negligence?

Medical Negligence Lawyer in the Salt Lake City, UT

Patients who visit a hospital for treatment expect to receive the best quality care but do not always get it, as a medical negligence lawyer in Salt Lake City, UT. Finding out what cases are considered valid medical negligence cases is not always straightforward. It can be challenging to determine if a patient’s condition has worsened naturally or if it was due to the poor treatment provided by a healthcare professional. If you have questions about what to do if you suspect that you were a victim of negligence, arrange a visit with a medical negligence lawyer in the Salt Lake City, UT area, like one from Rasmussen and Miner. Before you discuss your case, there are several things that you may want to be aware of. 

How is negligence defined? 

Negligence consists of four core elements that must be proved: duty of care, breach of duty, the breach of duty directly caused the injury, and sustained damages. If a doctor or other medical professional fails to provide a patient who is under their care with proper treatment that another professional would provide, they can be held liable for medical negligence. Examples of negligence include misdiagnosis, failing to identify symptoms, misinterpreting test results, or ordering the wrong tests. 

How often do medical negligence cases occur? 

Between roughly 15,000 to 19,000 cases of medical negligence in the U.S. occur annually. Cases of recklessness and negligence are rare. While they are not relatively common, victims can experience life-changing consequences. Patients experience injuries such as chronic pain and disabilities. Depending on the types of injury that they have sustained, they may require lifelong care. 

What if my condition got worse after the procedure? 

In some cases, a patient’s condition may worsen following treatment. Having poor results after an administered treatment does not necessarily mean that your healthcare provider has committed negligence that can be considered malpractice. A doctor may have exhausted their options while determining the best treatment plan for you. In order to prove that medical negligence resulted in the deterioration of your condition, you must provide evidence that your doctor did not act reasonably and failed to provide you an adequate level of care. 

What if my condition is not treatable? 

If your condition is considered not treatable after multiple tests, you may not have a valid case of medical negligence. Medical professionals can only do so much with their resources to provide the best care that they can for patients who are diagnosed with untreatable conditions. In these cases, it would not be classified as medical negligence so a patient would not be able to recover compensation. 

You should not have to suffer the consequences made by a physician or medical worker who directly treated you. If your doctor has made a crucial error during the course of your treatment, you have a right to see what your legal options are. Talk to a seasoned medical negligence lawyer that Salt Lake City, UT residents trust and depend on for quality legal services if you need personalized legal assistance.