Medical malpractice means that a health care provider has fallen short of the actions and behaviors that a reasonably careful or prudent doctor would have used in the same or similar circumstances. If a doctor commits an act or omission that goes against the standards of patient care, he or she can be held responsible for related patient injuries and deaths. The basic elements of a medical malpractice lawsuit are:
The presence of a doctor-patient relationship.
A standard of care owed by the medical professional.
A deviation from the standard of care.
Patient harm resulting from the doctor’s negligence.
Compensable damages suffered by the filing party.
In Connecticut, a medical malpractice claim can be brought against a health care provider for causing harm, injury, illness, infection or wrongful death to a patient through any type of preventable error. This kind of lawsuit can be brought against a doctor, surgeon, nurse, dentist, anesthesiologist, radiologist, hospital, emergency room and many other types of medical professionals.