What Is Medical Malpractice?

Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare provider fails to meet the accepted standard of care, leading to harm or injury to a patient. This can result from errors in diagnosis, treatment, surgery, or medication management.

What are examples of medical malpractice?

• Misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis: A condition is incorrectly diagnosed or diagnosed too late, leading to harm.
• Surgical errors: Mistakes during surgery, such as operating on the wrong site or leaving surgical instruments inside the patient.
• Medication mistakes: Prescribing the wrong medication or incorrect dosage, causing adverse effects.
• Failure to obtain informed consent: Performing a procedure without adequately informing the patient of the risks.

What should you do if you suspect medical malpractice?

• Request your medical records to review what happened.
• Consult a second opinion to confirm whether an error occurred.
• Consider legal consultation if serious harm resulted from negligence.
• File a complaint with your state's medical board if appropriate.

How Solace can help

A Solace advocate can help you gather medical records, organize documentation, and guide you in understanding your options if you suspect a medical error. While advocates do not provide legal advice, they can help you navigate appeals, request second opinions, and communicate with providers to ensure your concerns are addressed.

What to do next

If you believe you’ve experienced a medical error, a Solace advocate can help you take the next steps. Find an advocate today.