People go to the doctor expecting to receive proper care. In most cases, they do. However, there are also many cases in which there are careless or negligent medical professionals. These individuals can cause great suffering to their patients as a result. It is because of this that harmed patients can pursue legal action after the fact. During these situations, it is important to know there is a difference between being the victim of medical malpractice and medical negligence. Continue reading below to learn more and contact a Connecticut personal injury attorney for help with your case.
What is Medical Malpractice?
When licensed to practice medicine, professionals are obligated to provide their patients with a duty of care. This means the treatment they provide must be up to par with a certain standard of care. Failing to do so by knowingly breaching this duty is known as medical malpractice. It is important to note that, in order for a professional to be found guilty of malpractice, there must be an element of intent present in the case. This means they were aware that what they were doing was wrong and they chose to do it anyway.
What is Medical Negligence?
When a medical professional makes a mistake while treating a patient, they can cause severe harm as a result. While mistakes are human, this can put a patient’s health and life in danger. This is known as medical negligence. The difference between this and medical malpractice is that in situations of medical negligence, there is no element of intent. This means the professional can be found guilty of medical negligence if they unknowingly diverted from the standard of care required of them.
How Long do I Have to Sue?
When a patient wants to pursue legal action against a medical professional that causes them harm due to medical negligence or medical malpractice, it is important to keep the statute of limitations in mind. Simply put, this is a deadline they are required to meet, otherwise they can lose their chance to pursue legal action and recover compensation. In the state of Connecticut, the statute of limitations for medical malpractice and medical negligence is two years from the date of the injury.
Contact our Firm
Marc N. Needelman is an experienced attorney working throughout the state of Connecticut. If you need an attorney who is ready to fight for the financial compensation you deserve, please do not hesitate to contact us to set up a free initial consultation. Our firm deals with matters relating to real estate, personal injury, criminal defense, estate planning, and more.
