What Is the "Standard of Care"?

When someone files a medical malpractice claim, it is important to understand the standard of care. The standard of care relates to how a doctor should act or provide treatment for their patient. It is based on what a reasonable and prudent physician would do in similar circumstances. This blog will explain the concept of negligence and why it's important to consider when filing a medical malpractice claim.

What Is Negligence?

Negligence refers to any behavior that falls below the standard of care. In other words, if a doctor fails to act following the accepted standards of practice and this failure causes injury or harm to the patient, they can be liable for negligence. Negligence may also include errors in diagnosis, treatment, aftercare, or health management.

Examples of Medical Malpractice Negligence

One example of medical malpractice negligence is if a doctor fails to diagnose an illness such as cancer or heart disease despite having ample opportunity and evidence to do so. Another example would be if a doctor prescribes medication known to have serious side effects and does not properly inform the patient about these risks. These are just two examples, but there are many more cases where doctors may be found negligent due to failure to follow the standard of care.

The Impact of Not Following Standard Of Care

If a doctor doesn't follow the standard of care, they can be held liable for medical malpractice in court. This means the patient could sue them if they suffer any injury or loss due to their negligence. It is always wise for patients who believe they have suffered due to medical malpractice negligence to seek legal advice from an experienced attorney specializing in medical malpractice claims. The standard of care is an important concept when filing medical malpractice claims because it sets out what constitutes negligent behavior on behalf of doctors and other healthcare professionals.

Experienced Rochester Medical Malpractice Attorneys

The Rochester personal injury attorneys at Faraci Lange, LLP have over fifty years of experience. Contact us today if you or someone you love has been injured due to a doctor not following the standard of care. We offer free consultations and can help you explore your options.