Toronto Lawyer: "What is Medical Malpractice?"

As a Ontario personal injury lawyer and medical malpractice lawyer, I am often asked "What is medical malpractice?"  Some forms of medical malpractice are obvious, like performing surgery on the wrong body part or the wrong patient, or administering the wrong medication.  More commonly, however, medical malpractice is difficult to recognize.  A family may be wondering whether a bad outcome from a medical procedure was due to medical malpractice or a rare complication.  

In Ontario, an individual may have a medical malpractice claim when a doctor or other medical professional failed to provide proper treatment, which caused the patient to suffer a new injury or death.  Determining whether there is a medical malpractice claim requires a detailed review of your medical records  and, often, consultation with a medical professional. 

As such, a Toronto medical malpractice lawyer will need to  obtain and review your medical and hospital records.  If, after reviewing the  medical records, the Toronto medical malpractice lawyer is of the opinion that there is some evidence of medical malpractice, they may proceed with retaining a medical expert to provide a preliminary opinion.

In order to advance an Ontario medical malpractice claim, it  is necessary to have a medical expert opinions concluding that the treating physician or hospital  was negligent.

It takes time to adequately review medical records and consult with experts.  As such, it is important to consult with a Toronto medical malpractice lawyer as soon as possible so that you can protect your right to advance a claim.  There are deadlines within which you must commence a medical malpractice claim in Ontario.  If the deadline is missed, you may be barred from bringing a medical malpractice action no matter how merritorious your claim is. 

Iacobelli law firm represents victims of medical malpractice throughout Ontario.  To speak with us, call us toll free at  1-866-234-6093 or complete our online contact form here.