Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice is a form of negligence which entails an act or an omission by a health care provider which deviates from accepted medical standards. This deviation results in injuring the patient.
When this happens, the patient, or a party acting on behalf of the patient, can become a plaintiff in a civil lawsuit. The health care provider at fault then becomes the defendant. While this is generally the physician, the term “health care provider” can refer to anyone from nurses, therapists, dentists, or anesthesiologists. Also, health care providers who followed negligent orders are not protected from liability. Any negligence by any health care provider is dangerous and should be addressed.
There are four requirements that must be fulfilled to prove medical malpractice. These four requirements are as follows:
- A duty was owed: This means that the health care provider undertook treatment of the patient.
- That duty was breached: The health care provider was negligent in action and deviated from medical standards.
- The breach caused injury: The injury was directly caused by the negligence of the health care provider.
- There were damages: These may be monetary or emotional. Without damages, a case cannot be brought against the health care provider, whether negligent or not.
Medical malpractice can lead to serious injury which must be accounted for.
Contact a Minneapolis Medical Malpractice Attorney
If you or someone you know has been a victim of medical negligence, contact the Minneapolis medical malpractice lawyers of Terry, Slane & Ruohonen at 612-362-0000.
