Every medical professional in Palm Harbor has a professional and legal duty to provide adequate care to their patients. This means taking all appropriate steps to treat present conditions and ordering tests to discover other underlying problems. Failure to perform these tasks may constitute medical malpractice if it results in harm to a patient.
A Palm Harbor medical malpractice lawyer might be able to help you if a doctor, nurse, dentist, or hospital error has contributed to your health problems. A well-versed personal injury attorney may work to help explain complex laws, connect you to a qualified medical expert, and help pursue your claim for all appropriate compensation.
What Does It Mean for a Medical Provider to Commit Malpractice?
Not every patient who visits a doctor’s office or hospital can expect to make a full recovery or even necessarily receive a beneficial result. However, this does not mean that medical providers do not need to try their hardest to work towards a positive outcome on behalf of their patients.
According to Florida Statutes §766.102, all healthcare providers must practice medicine with a reasonable level of skill and care. In other words, they must provide reasonable and prudent care that any similar professional would in a similar situation. A Palm Harbor medical malpractice attorney could provide more information on how the law defines medical malpractice.
Demonstrating that Malpractice Occurred
All medical providers have a duty to provide competent care. However, there is a fine line between medical malpractice and a negative result that could not be prevented.
In some instances, negligent behavior is fairly obvious, but most cases are far more complex. Malpractice lawsuits may require an analysis of medical records, an interpretation of the outcome of tests, and an evaluation of the timeline of treatment to successfully identify negligent behavior.
Medical malpractice cases in Palm Harbor must rely on the testimony of an expert witness. These witnesses are uniquely qualified to evaluate and critique the decisions and actions of their fellow practitioners. A medical expert may be able to examine the records in the case, issue a report as to how those records indicate malpractice, and provide their opinion in court on behalf of a plaintiff.
Indeed, an expert’s opinion is not just vital to success in court; the law requires it. Fla. Stat. §766.104 states that plaintiffs cannot even file a complaint in court unless that complaint includes an affidavit indicating that an expert has reviewed the case and there is a good-faith reason to believe that malpractice has occurred. A medical malpractice lawyer in Palm Harbor could assist a plaintiff with locating and work with these necessary expert witnesses.
A Palm Harbor Medical Malpractice Lawyer May Be Able to Help
A failure to diagnose a condition, an inability to properly read test results, or a failed surgery can all result in severe health problems. Additionally, many of these conditions affect your physical health, emotional wellbeing, and finances.
A medical malpractice claim may serve to hold a negligent medical provider responsible for their careless or reckless actions, and a Palm Harbor medical malpractice lawyer could help you to form your claim and fight for compensation. Call today to learn more about your rights and potential compensation.
