I was in a serious car accident and was taken to the hospital for observation. My husband took me to the ER. When I was taken to a room, the ER nurse gave me a small cup and asked me for a urine sample. I gave the urine sample and placed the cup on the table in the room I was in. A while later, another nurse took me to have neck x-rays and a CT scan. When I returned to the room, the urine sample was still on the table. I asked my husband, if anyone asked about the urine sample to be tested. He said that no one had came for the sample. At that point, I didnt think anything of it. I was released that same night with no serious injuries. Two days later, I was not feeling that good. I decided to take a pregnancy test just as a precaution. The test was positive. I was about 5 weeks pregnant at the time. A few days later I made an appointment with my doctor who confirmed my pregnancy. I feel that the hospital was negligent and should have tested the urine sample before giving me the x-rays and CT scan. I have a history of miscarriages and I was afraid that this could have affected my pregnancy. Is there anything that I should do in this situation? I want the hospital to know that procedure was not followed. There was "negligence by omission."

A: In order to prove a medical malpractice case you need to show

1. a breach of the standard of care
2. definite damages
3. a firm link (proximate cause) between the two.

Here is an article on proximate cause in Virginia.

Here is a video that talks about medical malpractice in Virginia.