When you trust a doctor, nurse, or hospital with your health, you expect professional care that meets accepted medical standards. But when something goes wrong, it can be difficult to tell whether it was an honest mistake or medical malpractice. Understanding the signs of malpractice can help you decide when to take legal action.
What Is Medical Malpractice?
Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare provider fails to meet the accepted standard of care, causing harm to a patient.
In Washington and most other states, this means the provider acted (or failed to act) in a way that a reasonably competent professional in the same field would not have.
Common examples of medical malpractice include:
- Misdiagnosis of a medical condition or delayed diagnosis,
- Surgical errors,
- Medication or anesthesia mistakes,
- Birth injuries,
- Failure to monitor or follow up after treatment, and
- Neglecting to obtain informed consent.
Note that not every poor outcome is malpractice. The key question is whether the provider’s negligence directly caused your injury.
Warning Signs That May Indicate Malpractice
While only a qualified medical malpractice attorney can confirm whether you have a case, the following red flags are common in malpractice claims:
- Your condition worsened despite following medical advice,
- You received a drastically different diagnosis from another doctor,
- The provider ignored or dismissed your symptoms,
- You experienced unexpected complications after surgery or treatment,
- You were never informed of the risks of a procedure, and
- Medical records seem incomplete, inconsistent, or altered.
Steps to Take If You Suspect Malpractice
If you believe you’ve been harmed by a medical error, act quickly. We recommend that you take the following acts:
- Get a second opinion to protect your health and clarify what went wrong,
- Request copies of your medical records as they are critical evidence in any malpractice investigation,
- Document your symptoms and treatment timeline, and
- Contact a medical malpractice attorney as soon as possible to review your case and preserve your rights before deadlines expire.
Contact Otorowski & Golden, PLLC
Please know that our firm is here to help if you were injured due to a medical provider’s malpractice. Otorowski & Golden, PLLC provides free consultations to all our potential clients. The attorneys at our law firm also have over 120 years of combined experience representing injured parties in medical malpractice cases. They never back down to insurers and fight for their clients’ interests every step of the way. Do yourself a favor and contact them now for the quality legal representation you deserve.