How Standard of Care Impacts a Medical Malpractice Case

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Baltimore Medical Malpractice Lawyers discuss how standard of care impacts a medical malpractice case.When you make the decision to pursue a medical malpractice lawsuit, you must be able to prove that the healthcare professional in charge of your care was negligent in some way. One of the first questions that will be asked is whether the healthcare professional failed to follow the medical standard of care when treating you. The standard of care refers to the type and level of care that another healthcare professional with comparable training and experience would provide under similar circumstances, and in the same medical community. If the answer is yes, and your health or safety was jeopardized as a result, you may be eligible for compensation.

To prove that the healthcare professional did not provide the standard of care, you will most likely need to identify an expert who will be willing to testify on your behalf. In most cases, the expert will be an experienced doctor who has been trained in the same field as the physician who treated you. The medical expert will need to do the following:

  • Explain the standard of care for the condition, injury, or illness for which you were treated
  • Provide testimony about how your treatment did not meet the standard of care
  • Offer examples of how you were harmed as a result of the sub-standard treatment

Specialists with High Standard of Care

There are several medical specialties that require additional schooling and rigorous training to be qualified to practice. These specialists are also held to a higher standard of care. The following are examples of medical specialists that have a heightened standard of care:

  • Cardiologists
  • Pediatrics
  • Neurologists
  • Anesthesiologists
  • Radiologists
  • Ophthalmologists
  • Internal medicine

Damages Clients Can Expect to Recover

If you can prove that your healthcare professional did not provide the standard of care, you may be able receive compensation for the following:

  • Medical bills associated with the negligent behavior
  • Wages lost as a result of missed work associated with the medical malpractice
  • Lost earning capacity caused by the medical malpractice
  • Pain and suffering based on the severity and permanency of your injury or illness caused by the medical malpractice

Common Examples of Medical Malpractice

  • Administering incorrect dosage amounts of anesthesia
  • Failing to properly monitor the heartbeat of an unborn baby during labor
  • Amputating an incorrect body part
  • Misdiagnosing a patient’s medical condition
  • Leaving sponges or medical instruments inside the patient’s body
  • Neglecting to properly care for incapacitated patients, resulting in bed sores
  • Administering a medication that is a potentially fatal allergen
  • Providing substandard trauma care to an accident victim

Baltimore Medical Malpractice Lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton Protect Victims of Medical Negligence

If your health and safety has been compromised while under the care of a healthcare professional, you are urged to contact the Baltimore medical malpractice lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton. We will conduct a thorough investigation of your case and determine whether your physician was negligent in any way. Our dedicated legal team will protect your rights and secure the maximum financial compensation you deserve. To schedule a free consultation, call us today at 800-547-4LAW (4529) or contact us online.

Our offices are located in Baltimore, Columbia, Glen Burnie, and Towson, allowing us to represent medical malpractice victims in Maryland, including those in Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Harford County, Howard County, Montgomery County, Maryland’s Western Counties, Prince George’s County, Queen Anne’s County, Southern Maryland, and the Eastern Shore, as well as the communities of Catonsville, Essex, Halethorpe, Middle River, Rosedale, Gwynn Oak, Brooklandville, Dundalk, Pikesville, Nottingham, Windsor Mill, Lutherville, Timonium, Sparrows Point, Ridgewood, and Elkridge.