What is medical malpractice law?

Medical malpractice law is a set of laws that protect injured people from the negligence of medical professionals in the state of Washington. It holds medical professionals to a high standard of care, which is the same level of care that a competent professional with the same training and experience would use in a similar situation. When a medical professional does not meet this standard and causes injury to a patient, medical malpractice law holds them liable for damages. Damages are the costs associated with the medical malpractice; they can be economic (such as medical bills, lost wages, or additional costs of care) or non-economic (pain and suffering, emotional distress, or loss of quality of life). In order to receive damages, victims of medical malpractice must file a “tort” law case against the medical professional. A tort law is a civil case which claims that the medical professional was negligent in providing care that caused injury to the patient. In Washington, the statute of limitations for filing a medical malpractice claim is three years. That means that a victim of medical malpractice must file a lawsuit within three years of the date the injury occurred, or the injury was discovered, whichever is later. However, if a minor is injured, the statute of limitations for filing a medical malpractice suit does not begin to run until the minor turns eighteen. Medical malpractice law is an important tool for holding medical professionals accountable for their actions. It helps to ensure that medical professionals provide a high standard of care, and helps victims of medical malpractice receive justice and compensation when they have been injured by a negligent medical professional.

What is medical malpractice law?

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