Hospital and medical negligence occurs when healthcare workers fail to diagnose, treat, medicate and care for a patient in a reasonable manner. Such failure can lead to excess medical expenses and possibly wrongful death.

Caring for patients in a reasonable manner includes:

• providing prompt care
• using the correct methods
• using the appropriate tools
• referring to a specialist, if needed
• accurately diagnosing an illness
• performing appropriate tests in a timely manner
• administering to any injuries in a timely manner using correct techniques
• prescribing the correct treatment
• maintaining a sanitary medical environment
• providing follow-up care or referring to specialists
• answering any questions the patient has
• providing the patient the treatment that was discussed
• getting informed consent from the patient

When hospitals and healthcare personnel fail to care for patients in an appropriate manner, they are acting negligently. Negligence means that the hospital or its employees acted in a certain way despite knowing there was a better way or having the means to discover a better way; it means they acted unreasonably. For example, a doctor who treats a patient for cancer without conducting proper tests to determine the extent of the cancer is acting negligently.

Medical negligence can be committed by any type of healthcare worker, including emergency technicians, dentists, chiropractors, physical therapists, nurses, hospice workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, etc.

Negligent actions can increase a person’s injury and result in costly medical bills and in some instances, wrongful death. If you or a loved one has experienced hospital or medical negligence, contact a personal injury lawyer who specializes in medical malpractice.