Medical Malpractice Attorneys

Medical professionals must comply with a standard of care in their care of patients. If a health care provider is not able to meet this standard and this failure results in injuries or complications for the patient, it may be grounds for a lawsuit for negligence.

A successful malpractice lawsuit may help pay for medical costs as well as pay back lost wages and acknowledge discomfort and pain. Medical malpractice claims can be complex.

The wrong diagnosis

Misdiagnosis is among the most frequently filed medical malpractice claims. This kind of claim is typically brought by a health care provider who incorrectly diagnoses an injury or illness of a patient. For instance, a doctor may diagnose a patient with pneumonia when the patient actually suffers from staph. A misdiagnosis can have serious consequences, such as death.

According to medical malpractice insurers that cover diagnosis-related malpractice, claims for this type of malpractice account for 9 percent (obstetrics) and 61 percent (pediatrics) of their total claims. Medical malpractice claims are comparatively small and could be biased towards more severe mistakes. Furthermore, many claims fall through or are closed without payment and many meritorious errors are not a cause for malpractice lawsuit.

To succeed in bringing a medical malpractice claim, the plaintiff must prove that the doctor acted in violation of the standard of care in diagnosing the condition. A lawyer for the plaintiff must demonstrate that the doctor's error caused injury.

The litigation process in medical malpractice cases is time-consuming, costly and emotionally demanding. Even though the majority medical malpractice claims are settled outside of court lawyers and expert witnesses have to invest time and money on discovery, negotiations, and trial preparation. Doctors are also often required to pay their malpractice premiums while the claims process is unfolding. These expenses have led some to call for tort reform which could reduce the amount and promote more timely settlements.

Errors in Treatment

When you visit a hospital or doctor to receive treatment, the medical treatment you receive will be in line with the standard of practice in your community. This includes accurate diagnosis, a reasonable treatment plan, and the proper follow-up to ensure your health improves. However, mistakes by doctors, nurses or other medical personnel could be devastating and cause permanent injury or even death.

These errors can take many forms. For instance hospital staff members might misread a patient's chart and prescribe the wrong medication. This type of mistake typically occurs in emergency rooms, where the time available is limited and staff members are pressured to provide fast service. It can also happen if doctors treat a condition that is outside of his or her expertise.

Other types of errors comprise prescribing incorrect medications or giving patients a wrong dosage that causes injury. These mistakes can be made by nurse practitioners, doctors, physician assistants, pharmacists and optometrists. These errors can also include the failure to suggest or [empty] prescribe the required follow-up procedure to rectify the error.

Errors in the prescription process can cause a wide range of serious injuries. When a heart patient is taking a medication, blood thinners can cause a dangerous bleeding disorder. It can also trigger a stroke. If you've suffered an injury or lost someone you love due to a medical mistake, it is crucial to consult a knowledgeable New York medical malpractice lawyer to determine if you're eligible to seek compensation.

Negligence

Negligence can result of medical professionals not adhering to accepted standards. This can happen in various settings, such as hospitals, doctor's office, therapy clinics, and nursing homes. If a physician violates those standards and the patient is harmed for a long time it could be a requirement to compensate the victim for the harm.

In order to prevail in a claim for malpractice the person who suffered the injury has to prove that the physician's breach in the discharge of professional duties caused the injury. Causation is a legal standard that is essential. The breach must be a direct cause of the injury and the damages that occurred must be quantifiable, for example, lost wages or medical expenses.

In the case of medical malpractice the attorney representing the plaintiff must convince the jury that it is more probable than not that the doctor's action or inaction led to the damages sought. This can be a difficult job since people aren't always in a clear mind or are in awe of what they believe that the other side will say.

It is crucial that the lawyer also is knowledgeable of how the medical field operates. This understanding can help demonstrate that the breach of professional duty was a direct cause of the patient's injuries. Medical malpractice cases can be brought in Federal or State courts, and usually require expert witnesses to define the standard of medical care that was violated.

Punitive Damages

We take for granted that we can trust medical professionals to treat us with skill and care. But mistakes can be serious, leading to lifelong injuries or even death. If these mistakes result in wrongful death, the family members of the victims could be entitled to compensation for the injuries they've suffered.

These cases could involve claims against hospitals, doctors, nurses, physical therapists pharmacists and diagnostic imaging technicians and even the manufacturers of medical equipment. It is crucial to sue all parties involved, since several parties could be responsible. Victims should work with their New York medical malpractice lawyers negligence lawyers to determine which individuals or firms are accountable.

Punitive damages are designed to punish the defendant and discourage them from repeating similar actions in the future. Punitive damages do not have to be limited to specific injuries. They can be applied to a large group of people and are only available for extreme violations.

In a case of medical malpractice the primary category of damages is the reimbursement for financial losses. This includes medical expenses and lost wages. Your New York medical negligence lawyer can assist you in determining the amount of your losses by presenting an expert opinion on what constitutes a violation of the standard of care in the particular area of the case and the specialty. This is a crucial step because without this evidence, your claim could be dismissed at the initial hearing.