Common Areas of Medical Malpractice

Given our culture, we are often loath to consider whether a medical professional caused us greater harm. However, the sad reality is that medical malpractice occurs everyday — and only a limited number of those affected by that malpractice ever do anything about it.

Whatever the reason, two things remain clear: acts of malpractice unfortunately do occur in the diagnosis and treatment of many conditions; and it is okay to do something about it.  In fact, bringing a medical malpractice issue to light provides a benefit for other individuals — only when a negligent doctor is held accountable can others be warned of the actions of these doctors and the proper standards of care which should be applied to all patients.

In great part, cases of malpractice involve physicians who have failed to heed the complaints of their patients. Whether the complaints involve a lump (in cancer cases) or any other concern, if your physician did not listen to your complaint, did not take your complaint seriously or offered only words of discouragement, there is a potential that malpractice occurred. Each case however, is unique to that individual and situation.  Outcomes will depend on the individual facts involved in each case.

In order to successfully prosecute a lawsuit for medical malpractice, there must be a demonstrable injury upon which recovery may be based. In order to prove this element, it must be established that the patient is in worse condition today than he/she would have been had the diagnosis been made in a timely fashion.

All complaints to physicians must be taken seriously. If you made complaints to your doctor concerning your symptoms over a period of time without a diagnosis, you should investigate whether malpractice occurred. Please contact Duffy & Duffy one of the preeminent medical malpractice law firms to further discuss a specific case and to learn more about medical malpractice.