Medical malpractice is a term used to describe the unintentional injury caused when medical providers do not adhere to their profession’s established guidelines. These injuries can range from nothing more than an unpleasant experience to fatal or incapacitating trauma. The most significant effects of malpractice are those requiring long-term care, such as brain damage or chronic pain that cannot be managed by any means other than medication. The primary cause of these injuries is negligence from the harm done in delivering care and treatment. The following are the effects of medical malpractice in the health industry:
Malpractice may even affect the cost of healthcare. The type of malpractice claims filed will vary with each occurrence. The monetary value of such cases is often hard to quantify, but overall the cost to the system may be substantial depending on the severity and nature of the fault. The higher the cost of medical care, insurance premium increases will follow to offset costs caused by malpractice claims.
The loss of life or impairment of health may be caused by medical malpractice. Injuries from medical misadventure are serious tragedies for all those involved. Each loss is felt by many, but seldom does a person have the ability to control these events or prevent them from being sustained. This can result from a seemingly minor error in judgment or miscommunication between physician and patient.
When a patient’s life is at stake, the consequences of negligence are not just felt by the victim. The family who loses a loved one might have to deal with all the ramifications of mistreatment, even more so if he or she was suffering from a chronic condition. Healthy people have no rights against health care practitioners, and therefore no retaliation on their own is administered by medical practitioners who should know better or do not care.
Health professionals may be guilty of medical malpractice when they fail to utilize established guidelines for care or treatment. This may be due to inexperience in a specialist’s field or just not having the compassion for human life in general. These individuals are a threat to anyone who needs medical care and treatment. When circumstances arise that threaten another person’s health, well-being, or very existence, it is expected that those who have dedicated their lives to healing would adhere to their chosen profession’s guidelines and regulations.
Malpractice insurance premiums for doctors can also affect patients. Insurance companies that underwrite medical malpractice insurance are regulated differently in different states. Depending on how insurance law is written and whether it affects a particular provider, malpractice insurance costs can be passed on to consumers at increased prices.
If you have been injured by a medical professional, you must find an attorney to represent your case. An attorney will be able to schedule a free consultation to collect evidence of the negligence or malpractice committed by the medical provider and present it in a court of law. This is crucial because if the injury was severe enough, you might be awarded compensation for any long-term care or chronic pain incurred.
