Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare provider’s actions deviate from the accepted standard of care, resulting in harm to the patient. These cases can involve, among other things:

 

• Surgical errors

• Misdiagnosis or failure to diagnose

• Delayed treatment

• Birth injuries

• Medication mistakes

• Anesthesia errors

Under Alabama law, proving malpractice requires demonstrating that:

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1. A doctor-patient relationship existed;

2. The provider failed to meet the standard of care;

3. That failure directly caused injury or death; and

4. The patient suffered measurable damages as a result.

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(These elements may differ slightly from state to state, but the core principles remain similar across the Southeast.)