Medical Malpractice Attorneys

Medical professionals must comply with an ethical standard when caring for their patients. If a health professional is not able to meet this standard and this breach causes injuries or complications for the patient, it may be cause for a claim for malpractice.

A successful malpractice lawsuit can help pay for medical expenses, reimburse lost wages and acknowledge the pain and suffering. However, medical malpractice lawsuits are usually complicated.

The wrong diagnosis

The misdiagnosis of a patient is among the most frequently filed medical malpractice claims. This type of claim usually involves a medical professional not correctly diagnosing a patient with an illness or injury. For example, a physician might diagnose a patient as having pneumonia when in reality the patient suffers from staph. A misdiagnosis can have serious consequences, including death.

According to medical malpractice insurers that cover diagnosis-related malpractice, claims for this type of malpractice account for between 9 percent (obstetrics) and 61% (pediatrics) of their total claims. Medical malpractice claims data are limited and may be biased towards more serious errors. Furthermore, many claims fall through or are closed without being paid and many meritorious errors won't result in a malpractice lawsuit.

A plaintiff must show that, in order to prevail on an action for medical malpractice, that the doctor didn't follow the standard of care when diagnosing the condition. A lawyer representing the plaintiff must prove that the doctor's mistake caused an injury.

The litigation process in medical malpractice cases can be expensive as well as time-consuming and emotionally charged. Even though the majority of medical malpractice cases are settled out of court lawyers and expert witnesses have to invest time and money in negotiations, discovery, and trial preparation. In addition, physicians are often required to pay the premiums for malpractice insurance as the claims process progresses. These costs have prompted calls for tort reform that would cut down on the costs of litigation and encourage faster and more fair settlements.

Errors in Treatment

When you visit a hospital or medical Malpractice lawyers doctor for treatment, the medical care you receive will be in accordance with the standard of practice in your area. This includes a thorough diagnosis, a reasonable treatment plan and proper follow-up to ensure that your health improves. However, mistakes made by doctors, nurses and other medical personnel can be severe and cause permanent injuries or even death.

These mistakes can take a variety of forms. A hospital employee could mistakenly read the chart of a patient and then administer the wrong medication. This kind of error usually occurs in emergency rooms where time is limited and overworked staff members are pressured to provide quick service. It could also occur when a physician is treating a condition outside the scope of expertise.

Other types of errors comprise prescribing incorrect medications or giving patients an improper dosage that results in injury. These errors can be committed by pharmacists, doctors nurse practitioners, physician's assistants and optometrists. They can also involve failing to prescribe or recommend follow-up care that is necessary to treat the error.

Mistakes in medication can cause various serious injuries. For example, taking an anticoagulant that is specifically designed for patients with heart problems could result in a risky bleeding disorder or cause the patient to suffer a stroke. If you've suffered an injury or lost someone you love due to a medical mistake it is vital to consult with a skilled New York medical malpractice lawyer to determine if you can seek compensation.

Negligence

Negligence can be a result of medical professionals failing to follow accepted standards. This can occur in a variety of settings, including hospitals, doctors' offices, therapy clinics and nursing homes. If a doctor violates these guidelines and the patient is permanently hurt it could be necessary to pay for the damage.

In order to win a malpractice case the person who suffered the injury must establish that the doctor's failure in their professional duties led to the injuries. Causation is a legal requirement that is essential. The breach must be the direct cause of the injury, and the damage must be quantifiable.

In the case of medical malpractice the lawyer representing the plaintiff must also convince the jury that it is more likely than not that a doctor's actions or inactions contributed to the damages sought. This can be challenging because people's memories aren't always crystal clear or are affected by the arguments of the opposing side.

It is also crucial that the lawyer has a solid understanding of the medical profession and how it works. This knowledge can be used to show that the breach in professional duties caused the patient's injury. Medical malpractice cases are filed in state or federal courts, and typically include expert witnesses who provide evidence of how the standard care was violated.

Punitive Damages

We are often under the impression that medical professionals will treat us with skill, care and professionalism. Errors can cause serious injuries, or even death. If those errors result in an unjust death, the victims and their families may be entitled compensation for the injuries they've suffered.

Wrongful death cases can include claims against doctors, hospitals, nurses, physical therapists, pharmacists, diagnostic imaging technicians, and even medical equipment. Because several parties could be involved, it's often advisable for victims to bring claims against them all while working with their New York medical malpractice lawyers to determine which individuals or businesses should be sued.

Punitive damages seek to penalize the defendant for their actions and deter them from repeating their actions in the future. Punitive damages are not limited to specific damages. They can be applied to a broad category of people and are reserved for serious misconduct.

In a medical malpractice case the primary category of damages is remuneration for financial losses. This includes medical costs and lost wages. Your New York medical malpractice lawyer can help you establish the amount of your losses by presenting expert testimony regarding what constitutes a breach of standard of care in the area of your case and in the field of specialization. This is a crucial step because without this evidence, your claim could be denied at the preliminary hearing level.