Medical negligence leading to patient death is the third largest cause of death in the United States.

Although this is a serious issue, not enough Americans know what medical negligence is or how to recognize it. In fact, did you know that medical malpractice and medical negligence are not the same?

Knowing the difference between malpractice and negligence can determine your quality of life following an incident with a medical provider.

If you want to learn the difference between medical malpractice vs negligence, keep reading below to find out what you need to know.

Medical Malpractice vs Negligence

Legally, medical malpractice and negligence have few characteristics in common and are actually very different.

Medical malpractice is a healthcare provider doing or not doing something that ends up harming a patient.

With a medical malpractice case, the healthcare provider knows what he or she should do to provide the best care, but does not do it. There is an intent behind the actions that they take or choose not to take for that patient.

One of many examples of medical malpractice would be purposefully overprescribing medication.

On the other hand, medical negligence is a healthcare provider making a mistake or taking an action that unknowingly harms a patient.

An example of medical negligence could be misinterpreting a patient’s laboratory results.

The biggest difference between medical malpractice and negligence is whether there was an intention to harm. There is a clear difference between someone doing something on purpose and someone making a mistake, although both can lead to detrimental results.

What to Do If This Happens to You

The first thing you must do is find a new doctor. You don’t want to stick with the same person that caused the issue in the first place, especially since you can longer trust him or her.

Next, you will want to request hard copies of all medical records. If you plan to file charges against the medical provider, these documents will be crucial.

If you are open to it, taking down notes regarding what you experienced, what your symptoms are, and how the situation impacted you could also be helpful in a legal case.

Because these cases can be extremely complicated, you will want to speak with an attorney regarding the matter as soon as you can.

Reach out to amtzlaw.com to find a lawyer that is experienced in medical malpractice and negligence. They will be able to take the information you provide and start looking into the issue to see what can be done.

Are You Concerned About Medical Negligence?

Now that you know the difference between medical malpractice vs negligence, you may believe that you have a legal case on your hands.

It could be a good idea to reach out to a lawyer for a consultation regarding your situation. They will help you understand what the next steps are and figure out a plan for your specific case.

Are you interested in getting more legal expertise? If so, check out our other helpful articles today.