When it comes to getting medical care, there are some very important points that must be considered. One of these is whether a doctor-patient relationship has been established. The existence of a doctor-patient relationship is one of the elements necessary for a person to file a medical malpractice lawsuit.<\/p>\n
What is the doctor-patient relationship?<\/p>\n
The doctor-patient relationship is established when a doctor agrees to care for a patient. The relationship means that the doctor has a duty to treat the patient to the best of his or her ability. Without the establishment of the doctor-patient relationship, a doctor can\u2019t be held liable for the outcome of a person\u2019s medical condition. For example, a doctor would have to treat a patient who has a stroke during an appointment at his practice. That same doctor wouldn\u2019t have to render aid to a person who is having a stroke at a retail outlet where the doctor just happens to be shopping.<\/p>\n
What type of care is required once the doctor-patient relationship is established?<\/p>\n
Doctors have to provide medical care that meets the current standards of care. The standard of care<\/a> isn\u2019t one that is the same from one instance to another. Standard of care is based on what a competent physician of the same skill level with the same resources would do in a comparable situation. This means that a doctor at a small, rural practice wouldn\u2019t be held to the same standard of care as a prominent specialist at a large, state-of-the-art hospital.<\/p>\n If you have been injured by a medical professional, the doctor-patient relationship and the standard of care are important components of a medical malpractice case. Learning how these concepts apply to your case can help you to decide how to handle your complaints.<\/p>\n