Baltimore Psychiatric Malpractice Attorneys

If you or a loved one was injured due to the negligence of a reckless, careless psychiatrist, we may be able to help. At Rice, Murtha & Psoras, we understand how stressful dealing with medical malpractice can be. Our Baltimore, Maryland, psychiatric malpractice attorneys can help you hold the liable parties accountable for your losses.

Don’t let the negligence of a careless medical professional take over your life. To schedule a free, confidential consultation, call our law offices today at (410) 694-7291.

Reasons to File a Claim Against Your Psychiatrist in Baltimore, MD

Psychiatrists are healthcare professionals in charge of taking care of those who may suffer from a mental illness. the work these professionals perform is not only delicate but also crucial to those in need of their help.

Unsurprisingly, most patients hold their psychiatrists in high esteem and trust that they are doing everything they can to help them get better. Unfortunately, this is not always the case.

There are healthcare professionals who have complete disregard for their patient’s health and well-being. Many decide to abandon their principles of good faith, safe practices, and duty of care.

As a result of this conduct, some of these professionals end up hurting their patients.

Fortunately, there are legal rights that protect patients and give them the power to bring the liable parties to justice. Some circumstances grant you the freedom to proceed legally against a negligent psychiatrist. We discuss some of those instances below:

Breach of Professional Relationship

Doctors, nurses, therapists, and many other healthcare professionals are held to a higher standard of duty of care. After all, these professionals are in charge of taking care of their patients’ health.

No matter the medical discipline, all healthcare professionals must treat their patients with the utmost diligence and care. Every psychiatrist must abide by what is known as the “medical standard of care,” which refers to the actions that might be taken by a reasonable, prudent medical practitioner.

Every case of negligence stems from a breach of this professional principle.

As a patient, you would expect your psychiatrist to conduct himself or herself according to their standard of care. However, not all healthcare providers abide by the rules.

Every year thousands of people suffer the consequences of the negligent actions or omissions of medical professionals. If a psychiatrist deviates from their duty of care, causing harm to their patients, he or she may be liable for any harm. Our Baltimore psychiatric malpractice attorneys can help you hold the responsible parties accountable for their wrongdoing.

Medication Errors

Psychiatrists often treat conditions with prescription medication. Every prescription issued by a psychiatrist must be considered carefully, always keeping the safety of their patients in mind.

An error in the type of medication, dosage, or frequency of use can have devastating consequences.  the damage caused by medication errors can be devastating, and in some cases, it can be lethal. If you or a loved one suffered harm due to a prescription issued by a psychiatrist, we can help.

Omission

Psychiatrists’ responsibilities should be taken seriously. While they have a duty of care to their patients, they should also pay attention to the potential consequences of their patients’ actions.

For instance, in the event a patient confesses they will attempt to take their own life or the life of another person, a psychiatrist has a decision to make.

While strong psychiatrist-patient relationship laws may prevent these professionals from divulging confidential information, they also have a civic duty to prevent a tragic event.

If a psychiatrist fails to report such a situation to the police and their patient hurts someone, the psychiatrist may be liable. Our Baltimore psychiatric malpractice attorneys can help determine if this is the case.

Things to Consider When Filing a Lawsuit Against your Psychiatrist

When filing a medical malpractice claim against your psychiatrist, there are specific elements to consider. First, you need to know that most of these types of lawsuits are based on negligence.

Under this legal theory, the plaintiff needs to prove the defendant negligent. Proving negligence in court requires you to prove specific elements for medical malpractice cases.

First, you will need to show the existence of a psychiatrist-patient relationship. This can be established by providing evidence that the healthcare professional providing you with the medical services you requested.

Supporting documents such as medical bills, medical records, and records of appointments can help you establish this element.

Second, you will need to demonstrate that your doctor owed you a duty of care. In other words, you will need to establish your psychiatrist owed you a duty to provide high-quality services and take good care of you, according to the medical standard of care.

Third, you will need to establish that your doctor breached their duty of care, which caused you harm.

Finally, you will need to show that you suffered losses as a consequence of your psychiatrist’s breach of duty. Our Baltimore psychiatric malpractice attorneys can help you throughout the entire claim process.

Baltimore Psychiatric Malpractice Attorneys Offering Free Consultations

If you or a loved one was harmed by the actions or omissions of a negligent, careless psychiatrist, we can help. Our Baltimore psychiatric malpractice attorneys can guide you through the entire claim process and fight to recover the compensation you deserve. To schedule a free, confidential consultation with one of our lawyers, call Rice, Murtha & Psoras today at (410) 694-7291.