Doctors make mistakes. After all, we are only human. But when is a mistake by a doctor, hospital, physician assistant, or other medical provider malpractice? Under the laws this state, malpractice is defined, as conduct that is below the standard of care for medical providers practicing in the same field and community. It may be obvious that the doctor has made a mistake. Only an expert can determine if that mistake is malpractice.
Malpractice might be as simple as taking too long to figure out what is wrong with a patient. For example, certain types of cancer, like colon cancer, are not difficult to diagnose, but a delay in doing so can mean the difference between having an excellent chance of full recovery and virtually no chance. A surgeon may make a mistake during surgery that causes his patient to go without oxygen for several minutes, causing brain damage. Medicine can be a complex thing, but that does not mean the doctor should not be responsible for mistakes when they should have known better.
It is important to understand that whatever it is that a doctor or other medical provider did, or failed to do, the patient who is affected by the malpractice has a limited amount of time to seek compensation for such mistake. It is important to go to an attorney as soon as possible after you suspect something happened that might be medical malpractice, to find out if there is a valid malpractice claim.
If you feel that you or a loved one has been affected by medical malpractice, please contact TOREM & ASSOCIATES now.
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