Having health care professionals you trust is very important. Unfortunately, these professionals are not always able to put your best interests first and can be guilty of negligent and harmful acts that can lead to severe and life-changing injuries or even death. Whether due to negligence, greed, profits over patient safety, busy schedules or simply human error, these acts can cause irreparable harm. If you think that you or a loved one has been harmed by medical malpractice, contact our Olympia Medical Malpractice Lawyers immediately for help.
A medical malpractice lawsuit Health Care Negligence Olympia can be complicated. It involves proving that your doctor, nurse, or other healthcare provider breached the duty of care owed to you and that this breach directly caused your injury or the untimely death of a loved one. Usually, this is proven by showing that your healthcare professional deviated from accepted medical standards another competent health care provider would have adhered to in the same circumstances. This can be proven through expert testimony.
The most common type of medical malpractice claims involve a misdiagnosis. Symptoms can be similar to those of other conditions, and it is critical for a doctor to correctly diagnose the condition. This is especially important in cases involving serious diseases, like cancer, as any errors can have fatal consequences. If you suspect that you or a loved one was harmed by a missed diagnosis, call our office today to speak with an Olympia medical malpractice attorney.
While acting negligently when treating a patient is unacceptable, it is not necessarily a crime. Malpractice is generally not a criminal offense, just as it would be to accidentally drive into a house and cause damage. However, bereaved family members can file a civil claim against the negligent party, seeking compensation for final medical and funeral bills, lost earnings the victim could have continued to earn, pain and suffering before their passing, loss of companionship, and more.
Medical malpractice is not a new phenomenon and it continues to occur across the country on a regular basis. In fact, a recent study found that over the last three years, 241 hospitals have been penalized for various issues including poor patient safety and low quality of care. These penalties can affect a hospital’s Medicare payments.
The National Practitioner Data Base NPDB is a database that contains information regarding malpractice claims filed against healthcare providers and facilities in all fifty states. This is an excellent resource for those who need to research the history of a particular health care provider or facility. It can be helpful in making decisions about what type of medical care to seek or which hospital to choose. It can also be used to identify patterns of negligence by comparing the number of malpractice claims against a specific provider or facility.