How to Prove Medical Professionals Made a Mistake
When pursuing a medical malpractice claim, proving that the medical professional(s) responsible for your care made errors that resulted in your harm is a critical component of your case. In other words, you must establish that your health care professional failed to provide the medical standard of care, which resulted in harm. Here's how the process works when proving negligence in a medical malpractice case.
Establishing the Connection Between Medical Negligence and the Patient's Injury
Proving medical negligence starts with four basic requirements:
- There is an established doctor-patient relationship.
- You received substandard care.
- There is an established link between the health care provider's negligence and the injury.
- Proof of damages.
Read our related article, Is it Difficult to Prove Medical Malpractice? to learn how each of the above relates to medical malpractice claims.
It's critical to understand that not every negative treatment outcome means that healthcare providers have engaged in medical malpractice. For example, a patient's worsening condition during treatment doesn't necessarily mean that a doctor was negligent in their patient's care. If the doctor acted with reasonable care and skill when choosing the course of treatment, medical malpractice most likely has not occurred — even when a patient's condition may worsen.
What Damages Can You Recover?
Even if it's evident that a doctor has given substandard patient care, a patient cannot sue for medical malpractice if they didn't suffer harm. You can pursue a medical malpractice claim if you sustained the following types of damage:
- Physical pain
- Mental anguish
- Additional medical bills
- Lost work, including future lost earnings
Harmed By a Medical Professional? Grewal Law PLLC is Here For You.
When you seek medical care, you trust that the medical professionals caring for you give you the level of care you are entitled to receive as a patient. However, it can be a devastating situation when your injury or condition worsens due to substandard care. When unsure where to turn for help, it can make the situation much more stressful. Know that all hope is not lost. Our team of medical malpractice lawyers is here to help you seek justice.
Learn your legal rights. Schedule a consultation with an attorney at Grewal Law PLLC by calling (888) 211-5798 today.