Some issues may not be medical malpractice

If you are interested in bringing a medical malpractice case in Connecticut, it is very important to understand that some things that patients consider malpractice do not qualify as medical malpractice under the law, at least not on their own. Some of these things could be part of a larger malpractice case if there are other components. After all, not all issues that are experienced in a medical setting are the fault of the doctor, and not all of them spring from negligence or a lack of care.

For example, you may have gone to the doctor and felt that he or she was rushed, not giving you the amount of time that you desired. You may even have felt that he or she was rude to you. If this leads to negligence and a missed diagnosis, it could be part of a malpractice case. However, rudeness alone is not grounds for malpractice.

Another example is simply if you went to the doctor, got treatment and then did not heal completely. While doctors are expected to provide the best care possible, they cannot promise that every patient will heal. Some things are difficult or even impossible to treat. Not getting the outcome you want, if the doctor did all in his or her power to help you, is not malpractice.

This should not deter you from looking into a malpractice case if you believe that such a case is warranted. It is just important to remember that medical malpractice does not apply in every situation, but only in those when you do not get proper care.

Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch, “What is and is not medical malpractice?” Colleen Quinn and Richard Locke, Jan. 01, 2015