No doctor or nurse is perfect, and even routine medical procedures can go wrong. However, when health care professionals fail to provide their patients with a certain standard of care, patients often suffer the consequences, which may impact the rest of their lives. In many cases, this is because of negligence, but some situations may rise to the level of medical malpractice. While these two terms are sometimes used interchangeably, there are some key differences that may affect the outcome of your case.

What Is Medical Negligence?

Many health care injuries are caused by mistakes that other professionals with similar experience wouldn’t have made. For instance, misreading a prescription and dispensing the wrong medication or leaving surgical sponges inside of a patient are common examples of medical negligence. Misdiagnoses related to poorly interpreted test results can also provide grounds for a negligence claim if another reasonable doctor would have reached a different conclusion.

What Is Medical Malpractice?

Unlike negligence, medical malpractice involves a certain level of intent. For instance, a doctor might have suspected that a patient was suffering from a certain medical condition but decided against ordering a specific test, or they might have understood that a patient’s medications could cause serious damage and ignored the risks when writing prescriptions.

Why Should You Hire a Medical Malpractice Attorney?

Establishing a clear link between a health care provider’s negligence and your own injuries is difficult, often requiring the testimony of expert witnesses and extensive documentation. A skilled attorney can help determine whether your injuries were caused by medical malpractice or negligence and begin collecting the evidence to ensure you’re fully compensated for your losses.

If you’ve received substandard care from a doctor or other health care provider, Danny E. Darnall, Attorney at Law, has the expertise to help you achieve justice. Their legal team has been serving medical malpractice victims throughout the Elizabethtown, KY, area for over 40 years, establishing themselves as professionals who are committed to the welfare of their clients. Visit their website to learn more about their medical malpractice services, or call (270) 769-9179 to schedule a consultation with an attorney today.