If you are the patient, how are you supposed to know when the doctor violates the standard of care? If you are not a trained medical professional, it can be very difficult to detect medical malpractice. The doctor isn't going to volunteer that information as an explanation for your condition that has worsened or for injuries you developed under his or her care.

There are some warning signs that signal medical malpractice. If your condition has not improved with treatment, it could mean that you were misdiagnosed. You may have noticed that your symptoms do not match your diagnosis. For example, if you "googled" your condition and the listed symptoms do not seem to coincide with your illness, it could indicate that you were given a wrong diagnosis.

If the doctor based his or her diagnosis on only a lab test, you should get a second opinion. Your doctor could have been negligent when diagnosing your condition. Also, if a common diagnostic test is not used (such as a colonoscopy to identify colorectal cancer), it could be a sign of malpractice.

If you are not sure if medical malpractice caused your injuries, you should talk to a knowledgeable New York medical malpractice lawyer who will be able to review your case. When a doctor is found to be negligent, he or she can be held accountable. Contact the law firm of Rappaport, Glass, Greene & Levine at 800-734-9445 for legal advice.

For more information, read the article, "Four Warning Signs of New York Medical Malpractice."