Medical Malpractice and Chiropractors

Medical Malpractice and Chiropractors

Medical malpractice is most often associated with surgeons and general practitioners. However, any type of healthcare provider can potentially harm their patient and should be held accountable when this happens. Though many persons prefer to receive chiropractic treatments rather than invasive medical treatment, but chiropractors are subject to making mistakes as well. If you were injured by your chiropractor, you may have grounds for filing a medical malpractice claim. Most medical malpractice attorneys offer a free consultation which provides the opportunity to learn if you may be able to find relief through the civil courts.

Understanding What Qualifies as Chiropractic Medical Malpractice

If a chiropractor treats a patient in a manner that is not consistent with accepted medical practices, and the patient is subsequently injured as a direct result, the patient may have grounds for a medical malpractice claim. To learn if your claim is likely to be considered valid in a civil court action, request a consultation with a medical malpractice attorney.

Medical malpractice is a civil action and not a criminal action. Therefore, those who were harmed by medical malpractice seek recourse through the civil court system. The victim is referred to as the plaintiff, and the chiropractor is referred to as the defendant should the case proceed to court as a lawsuit. In the majority of cases, the plaintiff’s medical malpractice lawyer is able to negotiate an out-of-court settlement with the defendant. This allows both parties to avoid a courtroom trial which saves both parties on court fees and lawyer fees. It also allows the chiropractor to avoid a public trial which could reflect negatively on their practice. This can further motivate the defendant to agree to a settlement rather than fight the claim of medical malpractice against them.

Common Examples of Medical Malpractice by a Chiropractor

As discussed above, when a chiropractor treats a patient in a way that is different than what the average, competent chiropractor would do under the same circumstances, and the patient is measurably harmed a result, this is medical malpractice. This includes not only the care they provide but the care they might not provide their patient.

Here are some common examples of how a chiropractor might commit medical malpractice:

·         Misdiagnosing a patient’s condition.

·         Not referring the patient to a specialist who is more appropriate for treating the patient than the chiropractor.

·         Causing the patient to suffer a stroke due to improperly manipulating the patient’s neck.

·         Causing the patient to sustain an injury due to improperly manipulating the patient’s neck.

·         Not receiving the patient’s informed consent prior to treating them.

Recover Your Medical Malpractice Damages

Depending on the severity of the injury you received from the care provided by your personal injury doctor in Baltimore, MD, you may be eligible for compensation for corrective medical treatment, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. Talk to a medical malpractice attorney today to see if your case has merit.

Thanks to Mid Atlantic Spinal Rehab and Chiropractic for their insight into chiropractic care and medical malpractice.