This guide is intended to help you understand the proper steps to take if you think you might be the victim of medical malpractice in Ohio. If you still have questions please contact our office today for a free case review.
Medical malpractice lawsuits can arise from many different actions performed by medical professionals on their patients. These can include the failure to diagnose a condition, surgical errors, incorrect treatment, birth injuries, and even harassment of patients. Regardless of the method, medical malpractice can cause lasting physical and mental harm to patients.
It is important to hold medical professionals who have mistreated or abused patients accountable for their actions through a lawsuit to obtain safer patient care for the future. It is also important for patients who are looking for medical care to know if the medical professional they are seeing has been involved in a medical malpractice case. Unfortunately, in many parts of the country, the consequences and records of medical malpractice situations are very limited. However, in Ohio, there are many ways that physicians who are convicted of medical malpractice can be publicly disciplined.
Medical Malpractice and State Medical Board Investigations
After a doctor has been accused of malpractice or other medical mishandling of their patients, they will be reviewed by their state’s medical board. Not every state handles this process the same way, and in some locations, the process is very limited.
For example, in states like Georgia, this reviewal process does not involve extensive discipline or record keeping of medical malpractice. The state audit recently did an examination of how Georgia’s composite medical board handled situations of medical malpractice. This examination found that many doctors who have been credibly accused of harming their own patients have been able to resume their practice with no record changes. Additionally, the examination by the state audit noticed only about two percent of all cases against physicians during last year resulted in any public disciplinary actions. Fortunately, Ohio has a much more efficient and strict disciplinary system for negligent medical professionals who have harmed their patients.
Medical Malpractice and Ohio State Law
Ohio takes medical malpractice discipline very seriously. The state medical board regulates more than 99,000 medical professionals. The disciplinary process is designed to prove the medical professional failed to abide by certain standards. Potential problems at the root of a medical malpractice case include:
- Improper prescribing, dispensing, or administering of drugs
- Failure to conform to minimal standards of care
- Sexual misconduct within the practice
- Fraud, including deceptive advertising, violating the code of ethics, or practicing medicine without a license or practicing outside the scope of a license
If a health care provider is found guilty of malpractice, the resulting disciplinary actions can be substantial. Negligent medical professionals may face fines, suspension, and even a revocation of their medical license. These cases are also recorded for patient transparency.
Contact a Medical Malpractice Lawyer Today
Medical negligence can danger a person’s life and cause fatal injuries. Pursuing medical malpractice lawsuits are the only way to get safer patient care for those to come. Lawsuits help hold doctors and other medical professionals accountable for their actions, and they create a record that is accessible to future patients. Every person has the right to know if their doctor has been involved in a medical malpractice incident.
The experienced lawyers at Tittle & Perlmuter want to see you receive the compensation you deserve and hold the medical professional who hurt you accountable. Contact us today for a review of your case.