If you live in Memphis and were injured by medical malpractice, you may have a legal claim for a medical malpractice lawsuit. 

What is medical malpractice?

Medical malpractice (also known as medical negligence) happens when negligence on the part of a health provider causes injury to a patient or results in the death of a patient.

Though “malpractice” often suggests incompetence on the part of the healthcare provider, or suggests a lack of professionalism, medical malpractice most often occurs when a competent provider makes a mistake they should not have made. That is why medical malpractice is also known as medical negligence.

How do I know if I have been the victim of medical malpractice?

Unfortunately, medical malpractice cases are complicated. The average person may have a hard time determining if they have been the victim of such a situation.
Augusta Free Press notes that it can be difficult to prove that an injury was caused by medical malpractice and not another cause. Reportedly, patients may need to prove that they were not given treatment and care that did not meet the standard of medical care. This may require bringing in experts to show that the care provided was of a lower standard than that which would have been provided by a skilled and competent medical provider.

If you experienced symptoms or a recovery that were not expected from the procedure you were planned to have, this may be an indication that medical malpractice occurred. For example, if you experienced a serious infection after a relatively minor surgery, you may have grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit.

It is important to note that some injuries are not the result of medical malpractice. Medical care inherently involve some risk, and many times, no one can be held at fault. Even if the injury was unavoidable, a medical provider should be able to inform the patient and their family about why an injury occurred.

In most cases, an expert like a Memphis personal injury lawyer is needed to determine if an individual has been the victim of medical malpractice or medical negligence.

Is medical malpractice common?

According to a study published in the Journal of Patient Safety, the number of deaths from medical malpractice that happen each year could reach nearly half a million — avoidable deaths linked to mistakes made during medical procedures, defective medical devices, incorrect diagnosis, poor records being kept, and a range of other problems. As shown in the study, what may start as a small mistake may have serious effects on a patient and their family.

How can a medical malpractice lawyer help?

It can be hard for patients to best advocate for themselves when medical malpractice occurs. An experienced Tennessee medical malpractice lawyer can help you build the strongest case possible if you have a medical malpractice lawsuit in Memphis.