Medical or clinical negligence occurs when hospitals or medical practitioners are taken to court for compensation. This happens when a patient is provided with inadequate medical care or with care that results in further illness or injury. Seth Law Solicitors notes that medical negligence can result in the amputation of a body part, a birth injury, cosmetic associated injuries, spine-related injuries, misdiagnoses, and excruciating pain and injury from dental negligence. Patients and loved ones who are victims of medical malpractice can file for this claim to help cover the costs of negligence-related injuries.

Legal Challenge

Victims may choose to resolve negligence related matters informally with the particular medical practitioner or formally with the institution they work at. If this is unsuccessful, they can launch a legal challenge.

Two elements need to be proven for a successful claim of medical malpractice in the legal setting. The first is the occurrence of a breach of duty where the standard of care that the victim received falls below what is reasonably expected. This is dependent upon the existing medical knowledge and clinical standards at the time of the treatment. The second is causation. There must be a link between the breach of duty and the injury or illness sustained by the victim.

Claimants of medical negligence also need to point out the specific treatment or procedure that brought unnecessary damage and harm to the patient. This may require the opinions and expert testimony of other medical professionals.

Different types of healthcare providers can be held accountable for medical malpractice. This includes medical professionals from the NHS or private doctors that provide paid treatment.

Claim Requirements

The success of a medical negligence claim will depend on several factors. Claimants must, for instance, keep time constraints in mind and take quick action when they make the decision to file this type of claim. The time frame usually requires that claims be made within three years of awareness of the problem or added injury.

It is also important that claimants gather evidence of the medical mistreatment and demonstrate how the victim’s quality of life was affected because of it. These records can mean the difference between a successful and unsuccessful case.

Further, a case can be boosted with the inclusion of medical witnesses. These refer to health professionals who were nearby or were witness to the care and treatment of the victim at the time of the incident. They may be able to confirm a lower standard of care or a negligent act and provide the court with a report on how the patient’s health suffered as a result.

While many cases of medical negligence are settled out of court, claimants need to remain prepared for a trial. The trial may take anywhere from eighteen months to three years and will depend on the attitude of the defendant, the complexity of the complaint, and the severity and type of injury that resulted from medical malpractice.

The courts usually award successful claims with damages or compensation money for the pain, suffering, and loss of earnings that victims may have experienced because of the negligence of a medical professional.