We expect medical professionals to conduct themselves with respect and compassion. In addition, we expect to be provided with reliable care and guidance about our condition. While we typically tend to think of medical professionals as physicians, nurses, and hospital staff, medical professionals actually encompass a wide range of people working in related fields. If you or a loved one has been the target of sexual, mental, or physical abuse by a therapist, psychiatrist, or counselor, it is important to seek the help of a personal injury attorney. Abuse typically takes place under the guise of treatment and can be extremely traumatic for a patient. At Arfaa Law Group, our Baltimore professional negligence attorneys will handle your case with diligence and care.
Taking Legal Action After an Incident of Professional NegligenceMost professionals are required to adhere to high standards of ethics. Unfortunately, when they fail to meet these standards, the results can be serious and long-term for people who are affected by their misconduct. If you have been a victim of professional negligence, we can evaluate the facts of your case and inform you of your rights and options.
Unfortunately, professional negligence may sometimes rise to the level of sexual, mental, or physical abuse. Sexual abuse occurs when there is a sexual relationship that takes place between a health care provider and an individual under his or her care. Mental abuse often includes verbal abuse of the patient, threatening the patient, or abandoning the patient. Physical abuse occurs when one person initiates physical contact that is intended to cause harm or injury to another person. Physically abusive behavior can include a wide range of actions, such as shoving or biting. Any type of abuse by a therapist, psychiatrist, or counselor is particularly repugnant because there is a relationship of trust between these health care professionals and their patients.
In legal terms, professional negligence occurs when there is a breach of the duty of care between professionals and their clients. As a result, the plaintiff must establish that a duty of care existed between the defendant professional and him or her. In the context of professional negligence, therapists, psychiatrists, or counselors are all considered to owe their patients a duty of care. The plaintiff must show that the professional breached the duty of care that was owed to them. It is also essential to establish that the victim’s harm was a direct result of the professional’s deviation from the practices used by other professionals in good standing in the same field under similar circumstances.
For example, a therapist’s conduct would be compared to what a reasonably prudent therapist would have done in the same situation when providing care to a similar patient. It is important to note that the standard of care can vary in different settings and depends on a number of factors, including the gender, age, and medical history of a patient.
The harm caused by sexual, mental, or physical abuse by a therapist, psychiatrist, or counselor can result in many tragic consequences for the patient, including suicide, attempted suicide, deteriorating mental health, depression, anxiety, chronic stress, and more. Once the full extent of the harm has been identified, the plaintiff can assert the right to compensation for all of his or her injuries and losses. These may include tangible costs like expenses for future treatment required to deal with the consequences of the defendant’s negligence or abuse. Damages also may be available for the subjective pain and suffering, lost enjoyment of life, and other less tangible forms of harm that the victim suffered.
Consult a Baltimore Lawyer for Your Professional Negligence ClaimAbuse by anyone is a traumatizing experience for the victim, but it is even more devastating when the abuser is someone whom you are supposed to be able to trust. At Arfaa Law Group, our Baltimore professional negligence lawyers understand how difficult these situations can be. We are committed to holding negligent therapists, psychiatrists, and counselors accountable for the harm that they inflict on innocent patients. Arfaa Law Group proudly represents victims and their families across Maryland. Call 410-889-1850 or contact us online to set up a free consultation with a medical malpractice attorney or seek guidance with a personal injury claim.