Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare professional deviates from the accepted standard of care, resulting in injury or harm to a patient. To qualify as malpractice, the following elements must typically be present:
- Duty of Care: The provider had a responsibility to care for the patient.
- Breach of Duty: The provider failed to meet the standard of care.
- Causation: The breach directly caused the patient’s injury.
- Damages: The patient suffered harm, such as physical injury, emotional distress, or financial loss.
Common examples include surgical errors, misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis, medication mistakes, birth injuries, and failure to treat.
While exact numbers vary, studies have shown that medical errors are a leading cause of death in the United States. According to a Johns Hopkins study, more than 250,000 deaths per year may be attributed to medical errors, making malpractice alarmingly common.
Understanding whether your experience qualifies as malpractice requires a thorough legal and medical review. At Pisanchyn Law Firm, our experienced team is ready to evaluate your case and help you seek the justice you deserve.
