It’s not always easy to prove that a medical mistake caused harm, but it’s essential to do so in order to win a malpractice case in Georgia. Read on to learn about the element of causation and how it applies to medical negligence cases.
What is causation?
Causation refers to the link between an alleged medical mistake and the injury that the plaintiff claims to have suffered as a result of a medical error. Proving causation can be difficult, but it helps to create a legal basis for compensation after an injury.
What are the elements of causation?
Factual causation is the first element. To prove it, you must establish that the defendant’s actions were a substantial factor in causing injury to the victim.
Legal causation is the second element of causation. It requires proof that the defendant would have reasonably foreseen the injury.
How do you prove causation in a case?
Since proving causation often isn’t easy, it’s likely that you’ll need an expert medical professional to review the facts of your case and testify about whether medical malpractice occurred, what type of error involved, how you got injured as a result and how these factors are linked. This can be a costly and time-consuming process, but it’s often necessary in order to build a strong case.
Medical negligence is not uncommon
Medical officers and other health care professionals are required to practice within the standard of care. It’s their responsibility to provide safe and effective treatment based on what a “reasonable” doctor in similar circumstances would do. If they deviate from the standard, then it can lead to medical malpractice liability if that deviation causes harm.
Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for some medical practitioners to become negligent in their duty to patients. When this happens, it can lead to serious injuries that may require lifelong care and treatment. In these cases, it’s important to understand how the defendant’s actions or inaction directly caused the injury.
If you or someone close to you has been injured as a result of negligent care by health care professionals, then you may be able to file a malpractice suit against them and their employer. In order to win your case, it’s important that you do everything you can to prove causation.