What is the difference between medical negligence and malpractice?
Far too often, mistakes are made at a hospital or doctor’s office that can result in serious and significant harm to the patient. The simple fact of the matter is that nobody is perfect, and patients run the risk of unexpected injury when under the care of even the most seasoned and well-respected medical professionals. It is important to understand medical negligence versus malpractice so that if you or a loved one is seeking compensation and/or justice in the event of a medically-induced injury (or even death), you understand what course of action should be taken.
What's the Difference Between Medical Negligence and Malpractice?
Medical negligence is when a medical professional fails to provide the medical standard of care. Things like unnecessary surgery, surgical missteps, misdiagnoses, lack of understanding of symptoms, etc. are prime examples of medical negligence. It is important to be aware of proper procedures and protocol as it pertains to your specific situation. Just because you believe that you are a victim of medical negligence does not always mean that you in fact are a victim of medical negligence.
Medical malpractice is when a medical professional KNOWINGLY fails to provide the medical standard of care. Examples of medical malpractice are patient suicide, premature discharge, assault, harrassment, improper medication/dosage, ignoring lab results, etc. Medical malpractice does not always mean that the medical professional was intending to cause harm, but their deliberate ignorance of proper protocol and procedure ensured that otherwise easily preventable injuries took place.
One of the biggest challenges of building a medical malpractice case is proving that your medical professional did in fact make a conscious decision to ignore the medical standard of care. That is why it is extremely important to work with an attorney that can best help prove intent and give you the justice that you deserve.
About The Law Offices of Nick Del Pizzo
Have you or a loved one been a recent victim of medical malpractice? Contact The Law Offices of Nicholas J Del Pizzo. As your personal injury lawyer in Baltimore, you will be working with an experienced and dedicated attorney who recognizes that people have legal needs that simply do not coincide with regular business hours. We will work hard to ensure that you recover fair compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, or benefits associated with your injury.