What is the Difference Between Negligence and Malpractice?

If you have been harmed after a doctor’s visit, surgery, or another contact with a medical care provider, you might be wondering if your injuries are related to malpractice or negligence. This determination can make a big difference in the compensation that you can ask for after your accident. When working with clients who have been harmed by medical professionals, personal injury lawyers always must assess whether the injuries are related to negligence or to malpractice.

If you are not sure which of these two forms of these medical accidents have happened to you, read on to learn more about the difference between negligence and malpractice.

What is the Difference Between Negligence and Malpractice?

·         Medical Malpractice

This is the breach of a duty of care that the medical provider or medical facility owes you when you come to see them. This kind of malpractice involves the intention by a care provider not to perform their duties up to the prescribed standard for their job role. Examples of this kind of accident happen when a doctor decides to skip running necessary tests to save time, or a nurse decides not to check on a patient because they assume they are all right.

·         Negligence

This kind of medical accident happens when there is no intention to harm the patient, but a lack of care is provided. This can be due to mistakes in shift changes for nurses or miscommunications due to incomplete chart notes. These kinds of mistakes might happen due to people being busy and forgetting to take proper notes or provide proper care but there is no intention to harm the patient through a lack of care.

Working With the Right Personal Injury Lawyer Matters

You need to work with the right medical malpractice or medical negligence lawyer to help you get the compensation that you deserve. Making sure that your lawyer is versed in this kind of case can make sure that you get the help that you need to get the compensation that you deserve for your injuries, both current and in the past.