Every year thousands of people in Toronto and across Ontario suffer serious disability and even death as a result of medical malpractice. 

As matter of law, it is always challenging to determine whether a patient has been the victim of medical malpractice or not. 

However, in many cases there are some obvious signs that would suggest some wrongdoing on the part of a healthcare professional that should prompt a legal consultation. 

Here are the top five signs that you or your loved one has experienced medical malpractice:

1. The outcome of the medical treatment was completely unexpected. For example, you underwent a routine day surgery but ended up in hospital for several weeks.
2. Your doctor suddenly discovers some new medical information from your file and organizes an urgent referral to a specialist even though you had been complaining about the same symptoms for a very long time.
3. Another physician or nurse voluntarily criticizes the care you received that caused you harm. Comments like “you should have been treated sooner for this” or “that should never have happened like that” are not often expressed by doctors or nurses about each other and if they are, you should be concerned.
4. The doctor or nurse has a negative history with their governing regulatory body, such as the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario or the College of Nurses of Ontario.
5. The physician or nurse specifically apologized to you and told you that a mistake was made and that they are sorry. Although it does not happen often, there are some physicians who take their professional duty to disclose harm seriously. Not all medical errors cause serious harm, however.

Medical malpractice claims are legally and medically complicated. If you suspect that you or your loved one may have suffered harm as a result of medical malpractice you should consult with a lawyer at your earliest opportunity for advice and recommendations.