You trust your doctor with your health, sometimes even with your life. But when that trust is broken, the consequences can be devastating.
At the center of every malpractice case is a crucial question:
Did your provider deliver the same quality of care a reasonably skilled doctor would have provided in the same situation?
If the answer is no, the law calls it negligence, and you have the right to pursue compensation.
Learn how this legal standard works in malpractice claims and how our Michigan medical malpractice lawyers at Fieger Law can prove it was violated to secure justice and financial recovery for your family.
What ‘Standard of Care’ Really Means in a Medical Malpractice Claim
The standard of care is the legal benchmark for medical treatment. It refers to the level of skill, attention, and decision-making that another reasonable doctor in the same field would have provided under similar circumstances.
Examples include:
- Ordering diagnostic tests that a reasonably skilled doctor would have ordered in the same situation
- Acting quickly when symptoms indicate an emergency
- Following established treatment guidelines for common conditions
When a provider fails to meet this obligation and a patient is harmed, it may form the basis for a medical malpractice or wrongful death claim.
Speak to Fieger Law today so we can review your case and determine whether your provider failed to uphold the standard of care.
How Medical Providers Fail to Meet the Standard of Care
There are many types of medical malpractice, and the standard of care varies depending on the situation and the area of medicine involved. Every year in the U.S., an estimated 251,000 people die from preventable medical errors, leaving families reeling from grief, permanent injuries, and a lifetime of challenges that never should have happened.
Typical examples and how a violation can occur:
| Type of Malpractice | What It Means | Example |
| Failure to Diagnose | Missing or delaying a clear condition | A doctor dismisses early signs of colon cancer and delays ordering a colonoscopy until it is stage IV. |
| Surgical Mistakes | Errors made in the operating room | A surgeon operates on the wrong knee, leaving the original problem untreated. |
| Medication Errors | Giving the wrong drug or incorrect dosage | A patient allergic to penicillin is given the medication, triggering a severe reaction. |
| Birth Injuries | Negligence during labor or delivery | A doctor ignores signs of fetal distress and waits too long to order a C-section, causing brain damage from oxygen loss. |
| Failure to Monitor | Overlooking serious changes in recovery | After surgery, a nurse overlooks falling oxygen levels, leading to cardiac arrest. |
Each situation shows how one mistake can lead to devastating but preventable harm. If you or a loved one has suffered because of medical negligence, call Fieger Law. We can start building your case and holding providers accountable.
Building Proof: Evidence in a Malpractice Case
To prove a malpractice claim, you need strong evidence that clearly shows the unmet standard of care.
Most cases require proof, such as:
- Medical Records: Detailed charts, lab results, imaging scans, and physician notes that show what care was given and when.
- Expert Testimony: Opinions from specialists in the same field, based on a review of medical records, test results, and accepted treatment standards.
- Hospital Protocols: Written policies, safety checklists, or internal rules highlighting where staff failed to follow accepted procedures.
- Witness Statements: Accounts from nurses, technicians, or family members who observed the treatment or its aftermath.
- Documentation of Injuries: Medical reports, photographs, or bills that connect the provider’s negligence to the patient’s harm.
Our Michigan medical malpractice lawyers gather this evidence to build the strongest case possible.
Why You Need a Skilled Medical Malpractice Lawyer
Proving a breach of the standard of care often requires cross-examining hospital witnesses, dissecting thousands of pages of records, and presenting complex medical testimony, all tasks our trial team handles every day.
Our qualified medical malpractice attorneys will support your claim by:
- Collecting medical records, interviewing witnesses, and identifying where the standard of care was broken
- Partnering with medical specialists who can review your treatment and provide testimony about negligence
- Filing paperwork, meeting court deadlines, and managing negotiations with insurance companies
- Pursuing compensation for medical costs, lost income, pain and suffering, or wrongful death
With experienced legal support from Fieger Law, patients and families can challenge powerful institutions and demand accountability.
Protect Your Future with Fieger Law
Whether you are coping with new health challenges or grieving the loss of a loved one, you deserve answers and financial recovery.
Fieger Law has the experience, resources, and determination to take on negligent providers and the insurers who protect them. Our team has secured record-setting verdicts for malpractice victims, and we are committed to achieving the justice your family deserves.
Contact us today for a free consultation, and let us help you secure your future.
