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.