Nothing is guaranteed when you're sick or injured and seeking medical attention; sometimes it just doesn't work out. But when it's the result of a physician not meeting the standards of the medical profession, he or she can be sued for medical malpractice.
Medical malpractice occurs when a patient is harmed by a "negligent act or omission" by the physician, according to FindLaw, but hospitals and government agencies that operate medical facilities also can be named as defendants.