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{{DialREVIEWEDPLS | reviewer = [https://www.harpergrey.com/lawyer/lindsay-Ajohnston/ Lindsay Johnston], Harper Grey and [https://www.harpergrey.com/lawyer/dionne-Law Blurbliu/ Dionne Liu], Harper Grey |date= June 2018}} {{Dial-A-Law TOC|expanded = health}}
Medical malpractice occurs when a health care provider gives substandard treatment that causes harm to a patient. Learn your rights in getting medical care and what can constitute medical malpractice.
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|align="left"|'''Tip'''
If you are concerned with a doctor’s conduct or the treatment you received, you can '''make a complaint''' to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC, the body that licenses doctors in British Columbia. Our information on [[Making If You Have a Problem with a Complaint Against Your Doctor (Script No. 423)|if you have a problem with a doctor (no. 423)]] explains how to make a complaint about a doctor.
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Suing for medical malpractice can take a long time — often two to five years or more from start to finish.
Some lawyers will work for a '''contingency fee''', meaning the fee depends on the result of the case. If you lose, the lawyer gets nothing. If you win, the lawyer gets part of your compensation award. Win or lose, though, you usually have to pay the expenses of suing, which can be thousands of dollars, especially if you have to hire experts to help prove your case. The Law Society of BC has rules governing contingency fee agreements to ensure they are fair to clients. For more details, see our information on [[Lawyers' Fees (Script No. 438)|lawyers’ fees (no. 438)]].
===Making a complaint about a doctor at the same time as suing===
If you are concerned about a doctor’s conduct or the treatment you received, you can make a complaint to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC, the governing body for doctors in the province. There is no time limit for complaining to the College. And you can do this at the same time as you sue for malpractice. The College cannot order a doctor to pay you money — only a court can do that. But they can discipline the doctor or have them take remedial steps. Our information on [[Making If You Have a Problem with a Complaint Against Your Doctor (Script No. 423)|if you have a problem with a doctor (no. 423)]] explains how to make a complaint.
==Get help==
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