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Every time we visit a doctor, physical therapist, nurse, or other medical practitioner, we expect to receive safe and reliable service. We all – health care providers and patients alike – understand the high duty of care that medical professionals are expected to deliver to their patients. When they cause harm to patients by failing to take the actions competent physicians would, they have committed medical malpractice.
Medical malpractice occurs in many different ways. Any action a medical practitioner takes while on the job that is outside of the realm of competent actions may be considered malpractice. Some common examples of medical malpractice include the following:
- Misdiagnosis
- Failure to diagnose
- Unreasonable delay in treatment
- Pharmacy error
- Failure to deliver appropriate treatment
Obviously, these are general topics, under which more specific instances of malpractice are categorized. Overall, there are quite a large number of potential medical malpractice offenses.
For a malpractice claim to be valid, the following elements or medical negligence must be present:
- The health care provider owed a duty to the patient (as in an established doctor/patient relationship)
- The health care provider breached this duty of care
- As a result of this breach, the patient suffered injury or death
- Damages were incurred through this injury
If the physician makes a medical error that does not result in harm to the patient, then a successful medical malpractice case cannot be made. Specific harm must have occurred for the patient or the patient’s family to be able to recover compensation.
If you have suffered an injury as the result of medical malpractice, then you may have the right to claim compensation from the responsible party. Contact the St. Petersburg personal injury lawyers of Beltz & Ruth, P.A. today at 1-800-931-4369 to explore your legal options.