Medical Malpractice Risks for Doctors

Medical malpractice is negligence committed by a physician, health care provider or other health care entity while engaged in the practice of medicine. Medical malpractice involves substandard medical treatment which results in an injury to the patient. There are many different ways in which medical malpractice may occur, from a doctor's simple medical error to failure to inform the patient of the risks of the treatment.

Adverse Outcomes

Sometimes, medical intervention and treatment can result in an unsuccessful, adverse outcome. When such an adverse outcome occurs, a doctor may be liable.

Failure to Provide Care

A doctor has a legal duty to provide reasonable medical care and attend to the medical needs of his or her patients. If a doctor simply ignores a patient's symptoms or neglects to provide medical care promptly, this may result in medical malpractice.

Lack of Informed Consent

Prior to providing medical treatment, a doctor must explain the type of treatment and its benefits and inherent risks, so that the patient can make an informed decision. Failure to obtain informed consent from the patient may result in medical malpractice.

Physician Error and Failure to Diagnose

When a doctor fails to diagnose or incorrectly diagnoses a medical condition, this error may result in medical malpractice. The same is true of medical errors such as incorrectly administering anesthesia or performing surgery on the wrong appendage.

Consequences to Doctors

Doctors who are found liable for medical malpractice can suffer a range of consequences. A doctor may jeopardize his medical license, incur significantly higher insurance premiums or the loss of insurance altogether, and suffer damage to his professional reputation.

References

• American Medical Association Patient Safety and Quality Improvement