When someone has a medical procedure, there is an expectation that the provider will do the best and follow the standard of care. Unfortunately, medical errors happen, and many of them result in harm to the patient. In some cases, this error may be due to medical malpractice.
According to Medical News Today, malpractice happens when there is negligence on the part of the healthcare provider. This may occur in various stages of care, such as the diagnosis, treatment, medication administration or post care.
Every healthcare professional has a standard of care they must follow and if they do not, this is typically a call for medical malpractice. Along with negligence and the absence of care standards, the patient or family can only file a medical malpractice claim if there is injury and this injury has considerable consequences such as:
- Some type of disability
- Chronic pain
- Significant income loss
- Suffering
- Lasting hardship
According to Texas A & M University Corpus Christi, the effects of medical malpractice reach much further than patients and healthcare professionals. The talk of malpractice can affect potential patients, as well, because they may not seek help at an accused clinic or hospital. Malpractice also affects a patient’s ability to trust a provider fully and openly.
Another effect of medical malpractice relates to cost. A provider may need to move to a different state that offers lower insurance premiums, and this affects current and future patients. Healthcare costs in the form of doctor’s rates and insurance premiums also rise thanks to malpractice payouts. To cover themselves, doctors may also order extra and unnecessary procedures and tests, the costs of which the patients are responsible for.