Washington has very strict rules about medical malpractice. These laws protect those who are victims of this problem. If you go to a doctor, you expect that the care you get will be commensurate to the level of expertise he or she has. For instance, when you take your child to the doctor for his or her cough, you expect that the diagnosis and medicine prescribed will at least begin to take care of the problem. Sometimes, the problem is bigger that the doctor thought and can cause greater complications than he or she thought. It is at this crucial juncture that the doctor’s expertise needs to be apparent.
Medical malpractice is almost the same as medical negligence. That means that, while you are under the care of a medical professional, you want to get the best advice and medical expertise available. You trust your practitioner to either treat you or refer you to a specialist. Whether it is a disease of a medical condition that can be handled by a prescription and monitoring or by a surgery, you trust them to deliver a standard of care that is equal to their level of expertise.
Some cases need more attention than others. If you fail to heal from a diagnosed illness, you may need special counsel to look into this. Physicians are only obligated to give you a diagnosis and offer a treatment plan. Doctors and medical professionals are liable if their treatment plan proves to be negligent. However, a legal professional may need to be consulted because the medical professional may have a basis of legal determination.
Have you been injured and suspect that the medical professional in charge of your case may be at fault? You may want to contact an attorney who knows the laws of the state of Washington and can guide you through the sometimes confusing maze of legalese.
Source: Washigton State Statutes, “Actions for injuries resulting from healthcare” Jan. 19, 2015
