Medical professionals require more training and education than those in any other field. But they are still human. This means that they are entirely capable of making mistakes or other forms of wrongdoing. Most people are broadly familiar with medical malpractice as a concept. But there tends to be some confusion about what separates medical malpractice from negligence. That’s what we’d like to address today.
What sets medical malpractice apart from medical negligence?
What Medical Malpractice and Negligence Have in Common
From the point of view of the victim, medical malpractice and negligence might have more in common than they have apart from one another. Whether you were a victim of malpractice or negligence, one thing is the same: you were injured by a medical professional.
It can be challenging to accept that the people with whom we trust our health and safety could end up causing harm. But it’s more common than you might think. A 2016 study conducted by the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine found that medical errors are the third leading cause of death in the United States. That places it just behind heart disease and cancer.
Here are a few of the most commonly occurring medical errors:
- Failure to diagnose
- Prescribing the wrong medication or the wrong dose
- Improper use of medical devices
- Infections
There are practically limitless ways in which medical errors can occur. But what counts as malpractice, and what as negligence?
What Sets them Apart
If we can condense the difference between medical malpractice and negligence into one word, it would be this: intent. Medical malpractice involves intent, whereas simple negligence does not. This is not to say that, in the case of malpractice, the medical professional intended to harm the patient (although this does occasionally occur). Rather, it means that they knowingly failed to provide the patient with duty of care.
On the other hand, medical negligence is typically a mistake unknowingly made by the doctor. But this does not mean it’s excusable. We have a right to have extremely high expectations of medical professionals. We should be able to put our complete trust. Here at the Snyder Law Group, we do not stand for medical errors of any kind—whether they resulted from malpractice or simple negligence.
Contact The Snyder Law Group Today
The Snyder Law Group, LLC, proudly represents clients throughout Maryland and Washington, D.C. Our experienced Baltimore attorneys understand the frustration that comes with an insurance company, medical professional, or other party that refuses to accept liability for negligent or reckless behavior. You can take heart in knowing there are talented and experienced lawyers ready to work for you. We are experienced in handling personal injury claims of medical malpractice or injury resulting from serious car and truck accidents, and have secured hundreds of millions in verdicts and settlements. Please visit our website, www.410thefirm.com, for more information and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.