Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare professional deviates from the standard of care within the medical community. This type of claim arises when the healthcare provider injures someone by careless or negligent acts. Surgeries and other medical treatments don’t always turn out the way patients would like. That alone is not malpractice. The medical care provider must actually do something wrong, which causes the injury. The negligent parties involved can be doctors, nurses, hospitals, or other health care professionals. These professionals are expected to perform their duties with the utmost care. Signs of medical malpractice can sometimes be slow to develop, while at other times signs can be obvious immediately. For example, an improper medication dosing may take a longer period of time to affect a patient, while the effects of a surgery mistake can be instantaneous.

Examples of medical malpractice include:

• Surgery-related mistakes
• Misdiagnosis
• Failure to diagnose
• Injuries caused during childbirth
• Improper anesthetic administration
• Drug and prescription errors