Sometimes, people mistakenly believe that a medical provider has to do something erroneously to end up facing allegations of medical malpractice. The truth is that failing to take action when it needs to be taken can also constitute malpractice, not just taking action that results in injuries.
Take for example a situation in which a doctor doesn’t order the right medical testing even though a patient’s symptoms suggest that those tests are needed. When that patient gets very sick and requires intensive care, who should be held responsible? Very likely, it’s the doctor who did not run the appropriate tests on time.
When a medical provider doesn’t keep up with the standard of care that others in their field would have provided to a patient, it’s reasonable for the patient or their family to take a stand and pursue a medical malpractice claim.
Failing to diagnose or treat a patient can be malpractice
Any time a patient sees a medical provider with a problem, they expect to receive expert care. Unfortunately, not all doctors have the same backgrounds or education.
That doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t take the patient’s concerns seriously. If a medical provider can’t come up with a diagnosis, they should consider all possibilities and pass the patient on to a specialist or another provider who may be able to help. Simply ignoring an issue or assuming nothing is wrong is unacceptable.
Failing to monitor the patient’s condition after suggesting medications or treatment options may constitute malpractice as well, especially if the patient informs the medical provider that the treatment plan they’ve been given is not working to relieve their condition.
Medical negligence is a form of malpractice and can be something that patients and their families take issue with in court. If you or someone you love has been injured because a medical provider failed to take action when they should have or was unable to diagnose you correctly, then you may want to look into legal options for seeking compensation. Medical providers are required to meet the standard of care required in the industry. If they make a mistake, they may be held liable.