Unfortunately, you can get hurt because of someone else’s mistake. When you can prove that the error incurred serious injuries and losses, you can file a claim for monetary compensation.
Such a claim can include pursuing damages for negligence during medical treatment. A key element to succeeding in these cases is proving the healthcare provider fell below the standard of care.
The meaning behind the term “medical standard of care”
The “medical standard of care” in Arizona refers to the kind of treatment that a reasonable, prudent healthcare provider does under the same or similar circumstances. As a patient, you have the right to expect your healthcare provider and/or facility to provide this reasonable level of care.
However, Forbes reports that medical malpractice is one of the leading causes of death in the United States, only behind heart disease and cancer. A healthcare provider may do something wrong or forget to perform a critical action that leads to your harm or worsens your condition. If other healthcare providers would not have made that mistake in the same situation, it is possible your healthcare provider did not meet the expected standard of care.
Proving a healthcare provider did not meet the standard of care
To prove that a healthcare provider did not meet the standard of care, you often need the insight of another medical professional with the same training and experience. This individual would explain what the correct standard of care should have been for the specific case. Then, the medical professional would detail how your healthcare provider failed to meet that standard.
Examples might include neglecting to perform certain tests or not asking vital questions. Other medical errors include mistakes during surgery, wrong or delayed diagnoses or not properly checking up on patients.
Another common issue is prescription errors. Though telemedicine has become popular, healthcare providers need to guard against hastily making prescriptions over the internet without properly examining patients. If a healthcare provider overprescribed you or made another prescription error, you could have a medical malpractice claim.
Getting justice after a healthcare provider breaches the standard of care
Medical malpractice cases are some of the most complex and hard-fought cases. Showing that a healthcare provider’s care was below the expected standard and directly caused harm requires strong evidence and attorneys that specialize in medical malpractice. Our experienced medical malpractice attorneys are ready to help you fight for justice in such cases.
Legal assistance for your injuries
Navigating a medical malpractice claim takes a skilled legal team. Reach out to us at Harris, Powers & Cunningham PLLC in Phoenix if you’ve been injured by a medical professional. We provide a free initial consultation. Call 602-910-6779 or contact us online.