The Tricky Business of Alternative Medicine and Medical Malpractice

Unfortunately, not all of the people out there who provide healthcare services are licensed or even particularly qualified for what they do. There are some definite scam treatments on the market and, depending upon whether you went to an alternative medicine practitioner who was, essentially, a quack or somebody who is a legitimate alternative medicine practitioner who can be held responsible under medical malpractice laws, you may or may not have an option for filing a lawsuit. Here are some things to consider.

1: Were They Licensed?

If the alternative practitioner had licensing of some kind from an official state agency, it's likely that you can sue them for medical malpractice. The licensing is what gives them legal standing as legitimate provider of medical services. Not all alternative practitioners actually have this type of licensing, however. One way you can protect yourself from scammers is to make certain that, whatever kind of treatment they're offering, they do have some sort of official licensing requirement placed upon them by the state.

2: Did They Advertise Healthcare Services?

Determining this requires a bit of common sense on your part. If you went to somebody because they claimed that they could realign your chakras, you're really not going to be able to sue them for medical malpractice if you think they didn't come through on that promise. There is no scientific way to establish whether what they do has any benefit whatsoever, so there's no way that you can sue them in the same way you can sue someone for breaching their duties as a provider of medical services that are based in science. If you're dealing with a healthcare provider who was making some outrageous claim that isn't accepted by the medical mainstream, you're probably not going to be able to sue them for medical malpractice.

3: Did They Work at a Hospital

Chiropractors, acupuncturists and other healthcare professionals that used to be considered alternative practitioners are oftentimes employed at hospitals these days. If they were employed by a hospital or allowed to do business there as a contractor, it's likely that an attorney could go after them for medical malpractice.
Medical malpractice lawyers are the only professionals who can provide you with medical malpractice information that will give you the right answers for your specific situation. Speaking to one is something you should do right away, due to time limitations on how long you have to sue.