Every medical professional has the duty to provide medical care that lives up to the normal standard of care expected from any medical provider in that situation. If the medical provider does not live up to that standard of care, the patient has the right to pursue medical malpractice compensation if there is damage caused by the provider's negligence. If this has happened to you, your next step should be to contact an experienced medical malpractice lawyer to pursue a lawsuit against the negligent provider so you can be compensated for your medical bills, suffering, mental anguish, and lost wages (if any). Before your lawyer can even file a lawsuit, however, they must file a certificate of merit, whereby a medical professional in the same field as the defendant studies the case and confirms that the case has merit and should proceed to court.