It's extremely easy for a prescription error on the part of your doctor to hurt or even kill you. Duplicating existing prescriptions, prescribing high dosages, providing confusing instructions, or prescribing the wrong medication can all be grounds for medical malpractice.

The purpose of most medical malpractice suits is not to necessarily to punish the erring physician, although that should be at least a secondary purpose. The fact is, medical errors usually place heavy financial burden on the sufferer's family, whether the result is death or serious complications.

Don't overlook what you can get compensation for in a standard medical malpractice case. Depending on the circumstances, you can get compensation for pain and suffering, loss of companionship, loss of income, loss of enjoyment of life, long term care, permanent disability, present and future medical costs, and more.