What is Medical Malpractice?
Medical Malpractice is, “bad, wrong, or injudicious treatment of a patient, professionally and in respect to the particular disease or injury, resulting. in injury, unnecessary suffering, or death to the patient, and proceeding from ignorance, carelessness, want of proper professional skill, disregard of established rules or principles, neglect, or a malicious or criminal intent .” (Black’s Law Dictionary 1111. 4th Ed. Rev. 1968). Like general malpractice, it refers to negligence in a professional setting. However, it is limited to healthcare providers, such as a doctor or hospital.
Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare provider deviates from the applicable standard of care, intentionally or unintentionally, and harms a patient. Cases such as Napier v. Greenzweig show that medical malpractice can be as blatant as ignoring understood rules, or it can be a mistake like a severe surgical error or a misdiagnosis. Medical malpractice is considered to be a serious issue, and healthcare providers found liable for malpractice often pay extensive damages. Occasionally, a doctor may lose their license to practice medicine if malpractice is severe enough or repeated.
Fully understanding cases of medical malpractice often involves some level of medical knowledge. Because of this, it is difficult to prove medical malpractice in court, and expert witnesses are typically needed to testify about a healthcare provider’s negligence.
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Personal Injury Glossary Terms
This glossary provides a quick-access resource for looking up definitions of terms you will likely encounter while seeking compensation.
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W
A
Accident Report — A detailed official record of an incident created on-site by an authority figure such as a police officer or hospital staff member.
Act of God — An unforeseen event caused by natural forces without human involvement that couldn’t have been prevented with reasonable care, […]
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Pittsburgh Erb’s Palsy Lawyer
Erb’s Palsy is a full or partial paralysis of the arm caused by nerve damage. Because Erb’s Palsy is often avoidable, in some cases, parents may be able to take legal action against the doctors or other medical professionals involved in the delivery process. This kind of personal injury case, which falls under the umbrella of medical malpractice, is complicated. Working with a Pittsburgh Erb’s Palsy lawyer with specific expertise in this subject area is the best way to set yourself and your family up for success.
Contact our Munley Law today for a free consultation and learn how we can fight to protect your best interests after a birth injury.
What Is Erb’s Palsy?
Also known as Erb-Duchenne paralysis, Erb’s palsy is one of multiple possible brachial plexus injuries. The brachial plexus is a network of nerves with roots in the neck, […]
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Pittsburgh Medical Malpractice Lawyer
Get a Pittsburgh medical malpractice lawyer who will fight for you
When we put our lives in the hands of a doctor or medical professional, we trust they will do their best. Unfortunately, medical errors happen too often in Pittsburgh. Many times, a mistake is just that — a mistake. However, if the medical malpractice was caused by a negligent doctor, nurse, or other medical professional which resulted in further harm to you or a loved one, you have the right to take legal action. To take the first step towards getting your life back, schedule a free consultation with a medical malpractice lawyer at Munley Law today.
We know a lot of medical lawyers talk the talk, but there is only one law firm that wins the way we do. Our firm was founded in 1959 with a simple mission: to fight for justice for all accident victims and never back down against the “big guys.” For the last 60 years, […]
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Philadelphia Catastrophic Injury Lawyer
Your Advocate After a Catastrophic Injury in Philadelphia
Accidents happen every day. Of course, any injury stemming from an accident caused by someone else’s negligence has practical impacts on a victim’s life. Injury victims must seek expensive medical treatment, deal with time off work, meaning lost wages, and often must navigate emotional distress following the accident. As you likely know, in these cases, our Philadelphia personal injury attorneys can help you recover compensation for your injuries through a personal injury lawsuit.
But if you or a loved one suffered permanent, severe injuries because of someone else’s negligent actions, for example, a spinal cord injury, severe burn, or traumatic brain injury, your life is turned upside down. Because of that, your response to those injuries is all the more critical. This is because while a catastrophic injury victim’s life is permanently changed, […]
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Pittsburgh Cerebral Palsy Lawyer
A cerebral palsy diagnosis can turn a family upside down as new parents must figure out how to accommodate their child’s needs. For many children with cerebral palsy, intellectual disabilities, seizure disorders, and vision problems are also common.
While sometimes cerebral palsy happens while the child is developing in the womb and cannot be helped, in some circumstances, a child may develop cerebral palsy as a result of a birth injury. Unfortunately, proving something went wrong during delivery can be hard to do. But with a Pittsburgh cerebral palsy lawyer like those of Munley Law, we can guide you through the medical malpractice claims process to ensure your child receives the financial support needed for the difficult road ahead.
What Is Cerebral Palsy?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines cerebral palsy as the most common motor disability in childhood. […]
