Medical Assistant Charged with Malpractice

Medical Assistant Charged with Malpractice: What You Need to Know

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Introduction

On September 13, 2016, former medical assistant Yarmila Pavlis was charged with malpractice in the state of Florida. Ms. Pavlis is accused of neglecting to properly care for a patient’s wound, which resulted in the patient developing a serious infection. If convicted, Ms. Pavlis could face up to five years in prison.

What is medical malpractice?

Medical malpractice is professional negligence by act or omission by a health care provider in which the treatment provided falls below the accepted standard of practice in the medical community and causes injury or death to the patient, with most cases involving medical error.

Who can be charged with malpractice?

In the state of Florida, a medical assistant can be charged with malpractice if he or she is accused of committing any of the following:
-Aiding or abetting the practice of medicine without a license
-Performing medical services beyond the scope of duties allowed by law
-Falsifying medical records
-Making a material misrepresentation to a patient
-Committing fraud or deceit in connection with the provision of medical care
If you are a medical assistant and have been accused of any of the above, you should contact an attorney immediately.

What are the consequences of a malpractice charge?

A medical assistant who is charged with malpractice may face a number of consequences. These can include losing their job, being fined, or even being jailed. The severity of the consequences will depend on the nature of the charge and the evidence against the medical assistant.

How can Medical assistants avoid malpractice charges?

In the state of Florida, a medical assistant was recently charged with malpractice after a patient died while in her care. The patient, who was suffering from a heart condition, went into cardiac arrest and could not be revived by the medical assistant or paramedics. The family of the deceased has filed a lawsuit against the medical assistant, alleging that she was negligent in her care of the patient.

This case is a reminder of the importance of following proper protocol when caring for patients. Medical Assistants must always act in the best interests of their patients and adhere to the standards of care set forth by their state. If you are ever unsure of how to proceed in a particular situation, it is best to err on the side of caution and seek guidance from your supervisor or another healthcare professional. Failing to do so could result in serious consequences, up to and including charges of malpractice.

What to do if you are charged with malpractice?

If you are charged with malpractice, it is important to seek legal counsel immediately. An experienced medical malpractice attorney will be able to review the facts of your case and advise you on the best course of action. Depending on the severity of the charge, you may be facing a civil lawsuit, criminal charges, or both. If you are convicted of malpractice, you could be subject to a range of penalties, including a loss of your medical license, fines, and jail time.

How to defend against a malpractice charge?

If you are a medical assistant, there is always the possibility that you may be charged with malpractice. While this is a serious charge, there are ways to defend against it. The first step is to understand what malpractice is and how it can be proved.

Malpractice is defined as negligence on the part of a healthcare professional that results in injury to a patient. In order to prove malpractice, it must be shown that the healthcare professional did not provide care that met the accepted standard of care, and that this deviation from the standard of care resulted in injury to the patient.

There are many ways to defend against a malpractice charge. One is to show that the accepted standard of care was not met. Another is to show that the injury was not caused by the deviation from the standard of care. Finally, you can argue that the deviation from the standard of care was not negligent but was due to other factors such as an emergency situation or circumstances beyond your control.

If you are facing a malpractice charge, it is important to consult with an experienced healthcare attorney who can help you evaluate your options and develop a defense strategy that is tailored to your specific case.

What is the statute of limitations for medical malpractice?

The statute of limitations for medical malpractice can vary from state to state, but typically ranges from one to six years. In some states, the clock starts ticking when the injury occurs, while in others it begins when the injured party discovers or should have discovered the injury. There may also be different deadlines for different types of injuries. For example, in California, a minor has until age eight to file a claim for injuries sustained at birth.

Can a medical assistant be sued for malpractice?

In most cases, medical assistants cannot be sued for malpractice. This is because they are not licensed healthcare professionals and are not legally allowed to perform certain tasks that could potentially lead to malpractice.

However, there are some exceptions. For example, if a medical assistant tries to diagnose a patient or prescribe medication, this could be considered practicing medicine without a license. If the patient is harmed as a result, the medical assistant could be held liable.

Additionally, medical assistants can be held responsible if they make errors while performing their duties. For example, if a medical assistant mixes up two patients’ medication orders and as a result, one of the patients suffers an allergic reaction, the medical assistant could be sued for negligence.

overall, medical assistants are less likely to be sued for malpractice than other healthcare professionals because they have less direct patient care responsibilities. However, it is still possible for them to be held liable in some cases.

Conclusion

The medical assistant in question has been formally charged with malpractice by the state medical board. This means that she will face a formal hearing in front of the board, and if found guilty, could lose her license to practice medicine.