Can I Sue My Primary Care Doctor for Medical Malpractice?

 Posted on May 27, 2020 in Medical Malpractice

Many people form close, trusting relationships with their primary care doctors. They assume that their doctor is someone that they can depend upon to give them the best medical care possible. Unfortunately, some primary care doctors make mistakes that result in significant harm to their patients. Whether it is failure to accurately diagnose and treat a condition, prescribing the wrong medication, or another medical error, these mistakes can lead to preventable patient injuries and suffering. If you or a loved one have been harmed by the actions of your primary care physician, a medical malpractice attorney can help you determine whether or not you have a valid medical malpractice claim.

Mistakes Made by Primary Care Physicians

In order to become a physician, doctors must attend many year of post-high school education. Most have also undergone extensive on-the-job training. Nevertheless, doctors are not perfect and they sometimes make mistakes. Some of these mistakes are virtually harmless while others result in permanent patient injury or even death. When a physician’s mistake causes the patient to suffer new or worsened medical concerns, this may be considered medical negligence.

Typically, a doctor is considered negligent when he or she fails to meet the “medical standard of care.” This standard of care refers to the type of care that a reasonably competent physician of similar education and experience would have provided under similar circumstances.

Some of the most common mistakes made by primary care doctors include:

• Failure to Treat a Patient’s Condition: Doctors are expected to provide reasonably skilled medical care to their patients. If a doctor fails to order the necessary medical tests, monitor the patient’s condition, and provide the medical care he or she needs, this may be considered medical negligence.
• Diagnostic Errors: Understandably, doctors cannot always immediately know what is wrong with their patients. However, there are some circumstances in which a doctor’s failure to accurately diagnose a patient’s condition is considered an example of medical negligence. Delayed diagnoses can result in patients not receiving the medical care they need to stop or slow the progression of their condition. An inaccurate diagnosis can cause a patient to miss out on the medical treatment he or she needs while being subject to superfluous and potentially harmful treatment.
• Failure to Provide a Referral: When a doctor cannot provide the level of care a patient needs, he or she has an obligation to refer that patient to a specialist who can help. In some circumstances, failure to refer a patient to a specialist may constitute medical negligence.
• Use of Defective Medical Devices: Medical professionals should always ensure that medical equipment is properly maintained and will not malfunction. If a patient is harmed by a defective medical device, liability may lie with the medical facility at which the injury occurred or with the manufacturer of the medical device.

Contact a Winnebago County Medical Errors Attorney

If you or a loved one have been harmed by the negligent actions of your primary care physician, you may have a right to compensation. Call Mannarino & Brasfield, A Division of Schwartz Jambois, at 815-215-7561 and schedule a free consultation with an experienced Rockford medical malpractice lawyer to learn more.

Source:

https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/728306_2