?During the course of my medical treatment, I went from believing the medical profession were going to cure me to the reality that they were probably going to kill me.? – Steven Magee
Have you had a medical procedure that went horribly wrong" If so, is there any legal recourse" Or, how do you pay for the consequent surgeries to repair the damage caused by the first procedure"
Unfortunately, as the quotation highlighted above by Steven Magee notes, there are medical professionals who, for various reasons, whether intentionally or unintentionally, make mistakes when treating patients. However, this fact is unacceptable as, very often, people?s lives are at stake. Thus, the US federal government has put measures into place to ensure that doctors who are legitimately guilty of medical malpractice the consequences of their actions and are banned from treating patients for a predefined time. Secondly, it is equally important to note that the questions asked above are valid and deserve a considered answer.
Medical malpractice: A definition
However, before we answer these questions, let?s look at a comprehensive definition of medical malpractice as this will provide the foundation on which to formulate valid answers to these questions.
According to apbla.org, “medical malpractice occurs when a hospital, doctor or other health care professional, through a negligent act or omission, causes an injury to a patient.”
Additionally, it is vital to note tha...