Questions about Medical Malpractice Cases
Salt Lake City, Tooele and Price, Utah
What is medical malpractice?
Medical malpractice is basically professional negligence by a healthcare provider that causes a patient injury. It occurs when a doctor, surgeon, anesthesiologist, EMT, nurse or other medical professional does not provide the standard of care that another medical professional of equal training would provide.
When can medical malpractice?
Medical malpractice can happen at any time during an interaction with a medical professional. For instance, it can happen when an EMT treats you in the ambulance. It can happen before, during and after surgery. It can happen in a doctor’s office during a regular exam.
If my doctor waited too long to perform a C-section is that considered medical malpractice?
Generally speaking, if a doctor fails to act in a timely manner to order a C-section, and the health of the mother or baby is compromised and an injury occurs, that can be grounds for a medical malpractice case. This is an all-too-common scenario in birth injury malpractice lawsuits.
What are other types of medical malpractice?
Other common types of medical malpractice scenarios include:
- Failing to diagnose a medical condition, or misdiagnosing the condition. This is often seen in situations when a patient has cancer, but the condition is misdiagnosed, causing the patient to lose critical time in treating a cancer that spreads.
- Mistakes made in prescribing (and administering) medications.
- Operating on the wrong patient or wrong body part.
- Failure to provide necessary care to patients in nursing homes.
If I signed a consent form, can I still sue for malpractice?
In general, yes. Signing a consent form usually only means that you have acknowledged the risks associated with your treatment. Consent forms do not give medical professionals permission to be careless.
Do all medical malpractice cases wind up in court?
It depends. Some cases move forward to court with a jury. But other cases are settled prior to a court date. It is often more preferable to settle without having to go to court.
What should I do if I think I have a medical malpractice case?
Consult with a medical malpractice attorney right away. A skilled medical malpractice lawyer can advise you on whether or not you have a solid claim. There are time limits on when you can file a medical malpractice lawsuit, so the faster you can act, the better.
If you have other questions about your own potential medical malpractice case, please contact our experienced Utah medical malpractice attorneys atG. Eric Nielson & Associates, LLC, based in Salt Lake City, Utah.
