What types of cases qualify as medical malpractice?

As a lawyer, I can provide legal advice on what types of cases qualify as medical malpractice.

Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare professional, such as a doctor, nurse or pharmacist, deviates from the normal standard of care, causing harm or injury to a patient. To qualify as medical malpractice, the following elements must be present:

1. Duty: The doctor or healthcare professional owes a duty to the patient to provide competent care to the best of their ability.
2. Breach: The healthcare professional breached that duty through an action, inaction or mistake that other competent professionals in a similar situation would not have made.
3. Causation: The breach of duty caused the patient's injuries or damages.
4. Damages: The patient suffered actual damages caused by the healthcare professional's breach of duty.

Examples of medical malpractice may include:

1. Misdiagnosis or failure to diagnose a condition, leading to improper treatment or delayed treatment.
2. Surgical errors, such as operating on the wrong site or leaving a surgical instrument inside the patient's body.
3. Negligent prenatal care or childbirth injuries.
4. Medication errors, such as prescribing the wrong medication or an incorrect dosage.
5. Anesthesia errors, such as administering too much anesthesia or not monitoring the patient's vital signs properly.

It is important to note that not every instance of medical malpractice will result in a successful lawsuit. A lawsuit must be filed within a certain period of time, known as the statute of limitations, and the patient must be able to prove all four elements of a medical malpractice claim.

If you believe you have been a victim of medical malpractice, it is important to seek the advice of a qualified attorney to evaluate your case and determine your legal options.