Medical malpractice occurs whenever a healthcare practitioner fails to act in a reasonable and prudent way to ensure a patient’s well-being. It can also include performing unsafe acts or acting in a reckless or careless manner when treating someone. Medical practice can result in devastating consequences, and is especially bothersome whenever it happens to a child, as the damage could easily affect that person well into adulthood.

Causes of Child Medical Malpractice

There are a number of things that could be considered malpractice in Texas, a few of which include:

• failure to make a proper diagnosis
• prescribing medications or ordering treatments that should be reserved for adults
• birth injuries
• abuse by a practitioner

Failure to Take Seriously

One of the most common reasons medical malpractice against children happens is because doctors do not take a parent’s complaints seriously in Houston, Texas. Some physicians tell them they are overreacting and that certain physical conditions are not possible because of the child’s age. This is often the case whenever a child has a heart condition, since this is typically thought of as something that only senior citizens are afflicted with.

Determining Damages

When child medical malpractice occurs in Houston, the amount of damages that are awarded can sometimes be staggering. Courts consider the long-term impact of the malpractice, so if care is required indefinitely, a great deal of money may be needed in order to do so. In some cases, the child may also be entitled to compensation based on the fact that his or her quality of life is greatly reduced over the long term. Each case is different, and the outcome can depend on a variety of factors, which is why advice from an attorney can be very helpful.