Malpractice Litigation

Malpractice litigation can be a lengthy complex process. It requires the patient, or a legally designated representative, to prove that the physician owed them a duty of care, that the doctor violated the duty and the injury resulted.

A variety of ideas were proposed to change the legal guidelines governing medical malpractice. The trial and jury system was replaced with an alternative that would cut costs, speed up settlements, remove juries that are too generous, and screen out fraudulent claims.

Undiagnosed

Medical malpractice is often caused by incorrect diagnosis. It happens a lot every year and can result in devastating consequences, like the need for surgery that is not needed or long hospital stays and unnecessary treatment. In some instances a mistake in diagnosis can result in death.

To prove malpractice, it must be demonstrated that the doctor was bound by a duty to the patient and violated this duty by failing to diagnose the illness or injury properly. In the majority of cases, inability of the doctor to meet the standard of medical care is established through an expert opinion. This could be a medical professional who has vast knowledge of the kind of illness in question. The expert must also prove that the physician failed to properly include the disease in his or her list of differential diagnoses using methods like asking additional questions, making additional observations or requesting additional tests as part of the diagnostic procedure.

A plaintiff must also demonstrate that the injuries resulting from the misdiagnosis were the direct result of the breach of duty. This usually involves establishing actual damages, like future and past medical expenses, lost income, suffering and pain, shortened life expectancy, and other damages. Additionally, the plaintiff must file the lawsuit within the statute of limitations which is usually two or three years after the date of the harm.

Wrong Procedure

It might be shocking to learn that surgeons execute the wrong procedure on a patient about 20 times per week. These surgical errors typically result in patients being faced with unanticipated medical bills and suffering and pain. A skilled medical Malpractice Attorney lawyer could help you obtain the compensation you require for your losses.

A successful malpractice suit demands a strong argument that the doctor is negligent. A claim of negligence stemming from a surgical error must show that the defendant's course actions was not in accordance with the standard of care that would be provided by similarly skilled doctors in similar circumstances. This can be accomplished by expert testimony and an extensive examination of medical documents.

During the discovery process your attorney and defense team will exchange relevant files for use in your case. The documents could include medical and surgical records, lab reports, and documentation of your injuries. Your lawyer will question witnesses in order to gather information about your case. When you meet with the witness, the opposing attorney will inquire about your concerns under swearing. This is called a deposition.

Surgery performed on the wrong site is a rare but very serious form of malpractice. This kind of malpractice typically is caused by the doctor who fails to adhere to the surgical recommendations or a patient's medical history. In this scenario it is simple to establish the negligence. However, determining which surgeon should be held responsible is not always simple.

Wrong Drugs

Every year over one million Americans are injured or have their health issues worsened due to drug-related errors. Doctors must exercise extreme care when prescribing drugs, to ensure they are safe and appropriate for the patient. If the doctor deviates from the medical standard of treatment and you suffer an injury as result, it could be considered malpractice.

Sometimes, the error may not happen in the doctor's office, but rather at the hospital. A nurse might misunderstand the prescription for a medication and then administer the wrong dosage or medication. The pharmacy could also make mistakes by filling incorrect prescription or filling the medication with harmful ingredients.

Medication errors are the most prevalent type of medical malpractice claim which our firm handles. We get calls from clients whose doctors prescribed them the wrong medication, which caused them to suffer severe injuries, or even death. Our attorneys will determine where the error happened within the chain of command and who is accountable for your injuries. We will help you determine the amount of your damages. This could include medical expenses, lost wages, and discomfort and pain resulting from injuries you sustained due to the error in medication. The greater the severity of your injuries, then the greater your damages. You deserve adequate compensation. We can assist you in getting the settlement you deserve.

Emergency Room Errors

Emergency rooms can be high-stress and high-pressure environments. This can be risky for malpractice attorney patients. Doctors are under pressure to treat as many patients as they can. They must also conduct tests quickly, communicate between themselves and write and read reports while providing top-quality patient treatment. Unfortunately, these busy environments create mistakes that could have catastrophic consequences.

ER errors can include anything from misdiagnosis to premature discharging of the patient. The majority of ER errors result from the absence of medical history, incorrect interpretation of test results or diagnosis and a failure consult with specialists. ER staff can make errors in communicating with one another or with the patient such as not communicating the patient's allergies, or any other health conditions or giving incorrect instructions to nurses.

To be able to file a lawsuit for malpractice, the plaintiff first has to establish that the medical professional did not follow standard of care. The standard of care is the level of care that a reasonable medical professional with the same training and experience would have offered in similar circumstances. The plaintiff must prove that their negligence caused them injury and subsequent damages. A successful plaintiff can recover compensation for past or future medical bills, pain and suffering, earnings potential and lost wages as well as funeral expenses if applicable.