If medical malpractice leads to a serious injury or death, contact Dorrity Law Office in Jersey City, New Jersey, for a free consultation. Medical Malpractice - An Overview For over 35 years, we at Dorrity Law Office have been representing those injured by medical negligence throughout New Jersey. Contact us for a free consultation about your case. Medical malpractice occurs when a negligent act or omission by a doctor or other medical professional results in damage or harm to a patient. Negligence by a medical professional could include an error in a diagnosis, treatment or illness management. If such negligence results in injury to a patient, a case could arise against the doctor if his or her actions deviated from generally accepted standards of practice ; against the hospital for improper care, such as problems with medications, sanitation or nursing care ; or against local, state or federal agencies that operate hospital facilities. Medical malpractice laws are designed to protect patients' rights to pursue compensation if they are injured as the result of negligence. However, malpractice suits are often complex and costly to win. While theoretically, you can seek compensation for any injury caused by negligence, regardless of its seriousness, time and money make it unrealistic to sue for an injury that is minor or heals quickly. Therefore, if you believe you have a medical malpractice claim, it is important to consult with an attorney at Dorrity Law Office in Jersey City, New Jersey, who can help you determine whether your claim is worth pursuing. Most medical malpractice cases proceed under the theory that a medical professional was negligent in treating the patient. To establish medical negligence, an injured patient, the plaintiff, must prove: The existence of a duty owed by the health care professional to the plaintiff ( for example, a doctor/patient relationship ) The applicable standard of care, and the health care professional's deviation from that standard, which is deemed a breach of the duty owed to the patient A causal connection between the health care professional's deviation from the standard of care and the patient's injury