How to File a Medical Malpractice Case

If a patient discovers that an object that is foreign like surgical clamps, remain inside her body following gall bladder surgery can file a medical malpractice lawsuit. A successful lawsuit must establish the elements of medical malpractice: duty, deviation from the duty, and direct reason.

Our clients must establish a direct connection between the breach of duty and the injury. This is known as the proximate cause.

The reason for injury

A medical negligence case may be filed by the injured patient or a person legally designated to act on their behalf. It could be the spouse or adult child guardian, parent or administrator of an estate belonging to a deceased patient, based on the circumstances. The defendant in a lawsuit for medical malpractice is the health professional. This could be an accredited doctor, nurse or therapist.

Malpractice cases usually require an abundance of expert testimony. Medical experts are required to testify on whether or not the health care provider adhered to the standards of care for their particular field. They must also testify as to the damage caused by the doctor's actions or inactions.

Injury caused by negligence and mistakes can be catastrophic. A misdiagnosis could have grave consequences, such as life-threatening conditions. Other types of injuries include operating on the wrong body part or leaving instruments inside the patient during surgery.

In order to prove a malpractice case the patient has to prove four legal elements: a duty that the doctor owed them; a breach in this duty; a subsequent injury; and damages. In certain states, like New York, the law places a limit on the amount that can be awarded for a malpractice claim.

Causation

The element of injury is called the causation. It is one of most important elements in a medical negligence claim. To prove causation the plaintiff must show that they suffered their injury on a balance of probabilities due to of the physician's negligence. This can be a challenging job due to various reasons.

For instance, Medical malpractice many of the injuries that are the subject of a medical malpractice lawsuit-malpractice lawsuit are the result of long-term or ongoing conditions that were in the process of being treated prior to. The time period for filing a medical malpractice case can be extended over several years and injuries can develop slowly.

In these situations it is often difficult to prove that one particular medical professional's violation of the standards of care caused the injury. However, the patient who is afflicted could be able to make use of evidence collected by the attorney, such as medical documents and expert testimony.

In the discovery process which is an element of the legal process for preparing for a trial, your attorney can request that the lawyers representing the defendants disclose expert testimony and other documents. The doctor who is defending the lawsuit is then required to testify in depositions, which are testimony under an oath. Your lawyer may cross-examine the doctor and challenge their findings. The jury will decide then if the plaintiff has proven the necessary elements of their case including obligation, breach, causation and injury.

Negligence

The plaintiff must convince the jury when filing a claim for medical malpractice, that it is more likely that the doctor violated his or her duties as a physician and that those mistakes led to injuries. The lawyer for the plaintiff must prove this using evidence gathered through pretrial discovery, which entails asking for disclosure of documents such as medical records from all parties who are involved in the lawsuit. Depositions, in which the statements are made under oath and recorded to be used at trial, are also part of this process.

A doctor was in breach of his or her professional obligation in the event that he or her did something that a reasonably prudent doctor would not do in similar circumstances. However it must be established that the breach directly caused the injury to the patient. This is referred to as causation or proxy causes. A patient may visit a hospital to have a hernia repaired, but end up having their gall bladder removed. This is medical malpractice as the removal of the gall bladder did not benefit the patient.

Medical malpractice lawsuits must be brought within a legally prescribed period of time, also known as the statute of limitations, which varies by state. The patient who is injured must prove that the substandard care caused injury and then prove the amount of financial compensation they are entitled to.

Damages

If medical negligence has led you to sustain an injury, you should be compensated. Scaffidi & Associates can help you receive a fair and complete compensation for your losses.

The first step is filing and serving an order and complaint on all named defendants in the lawsuit. The parties engage in discovery. This is a process in which documents and declarations are disclosed under an oath. Medical records and notes of the doctor are typically sought during discovery.

In most states, to get compensation for injuries caused by negligence, you must to prove four things: a duty of care due to the healthcare provider and a breach of that obligation; a causal connection between the breach and injury and damages that result from the injury. If your attorney can demonstrate all of these elements of a medical negligence claim, you'll have an enviable case.

In some cases, a court may award punitive damages, which are intended to punish the perpetrator and discourage others from engaging in similar conduct. However, this isn't the norm in medical malpractice cases, since courts require evident proof of malice in order to make these extraordinary awards.