Chattanooga Medical Malpractice FAQ

What is medical malpractice?

Medical malpractice is an act of negligence that is committed by a medical professional against a patient. When a medical professional commits medical malpractice, he/she places the health and well-being of his/her patient at great risk and also can cause his/her patient to sustain a serious injury. 

What is medical negligence?

Medical negligence occurs when a patient is not treated with the standard amount of care that a normal medical professional would provide. When medical negligence is committed, patients may not be properly diagnosed or may not receive appropriate treatment for their ailments, which can lead to worse symptoms and/or injury.

What is failure to diagnose?

Failure to diagnose occurs when a medical professional does not provide the correct diagnosis or any diagnosis to a patient’s symptoms. When a doctor or physician fails to diagnose a patient, the patient stands a greater chance of developing more complicated physical symptoms, incurring pain and also sustaining further injuries in the future. 

Can I sue my doctor for giving me the wrong medication?

In some cases, you may be able to file a medication error lawsuit against your medical professional if he/she gave you the wrong medication,, gave you a medication you were allergic to or gave you a medication that caused you to develop serious physical ailments and side effects. In order to move forward with filing a medication error lawsuit, you should first consult with an experienced medical malpractice lawyer, like Alexander W. Gothard.

Can I file a medical malpractice lawsuit?

Your eligibility to file a medical malpractice lawsuit will depend upon several factors. First, you must be able to prove that your medical professional had a duty to treat you. Second, you must prove that the medical professional’s duty was breached either by him/her failing to diagnose you or by him/her committing an act of negligence. Third, you must be able to prove that you sustained a serious injury. Finally, you must be able to prove without a reasonable doubt that because your medical professional breached his/her duty, you sustained your serious injury.