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What is patient abandonment?

A: If a doctor suddenly stops treatment without notice or fails to provide a referral for another doctor, you may be the victim of patient abandonment. A definition of this type of malpractice and a determination as to whether you were a victim may be better explained by a Cleveland medical malpractice attorney.

With so many different types of medical malpractice, it can be difficult to understand the patient abandonment definition. You may not realize that you potentially could file a medical malpractice lawsuit if your doctor suddenly decides to stop providing care.

When a doctor enters into a relationship with a patient, he or she begins treating the patient; the doctor owes a duty of care. The duty of care owed to a patient means providing the best care possible. If a decision is made suddenly to stop treating the patient, this would not be providing the best care possible.

However, this doesn’t mean that a doctor must continue medical treatment if he or she is no longer able to or for whatever reason, don’t wish to. But the doctor must give the patient enough notice so that he or she can find a new doctor. Or the doctor must provide the patient with a referral.

For instance, if a patient’s medical condition develops to a point where it is beyond the scope of the physician’s ability to treat him or her, then a specialist referral may be necessary. If the doctor fails to do so and decides to abandon the treatment, this could lead to a medical malpractice lawsuit.

To learn if you were the victim of patient abandonment, you should seek legal counsel. Schedule a consultation with a Cleveland medical malpractice attorney as soon as possible.

Help From a Cleveland Medical Malpractice Attorney

Do you have questions about different types of medical malpractice? Before you hire a Cleveland medical malpractice attorney, order our FREE Ohio medical malpractice guide to learn about your rights and options for legal resource in the event of a doctor or hospital’s mistake. To schedule a FREE consultation or learn more about your rights, contact the Cleveland medical malpractice lawyer team at Mellino Robenalt LLC today – 1-216-241-1901 or 1-888-457-1147.