Medical Malpractice

What are the grounds for a Medical Malpractice lawsuit?

Medical malpractice provides recovery for victims that have experienced injury or death as a result of the failure of healthcare professionals to meet the proper standards of care. Medical malpractice cases can involve birth injuries, emergency room negligence, failure of hospital personnel to monitor patients, failure to diagnose serious diseases, failure to prevent infection, improper administration of anesthesia, post-operative care negligence, radiological misdiagnosis, and urgent care negligence.

If I believe I have grounds to bring a Medical Malpractice lawsuit, what should I do?

The first step to take if you believe you might be involved in a situation involving medical malpractice is to collect all relevant information. You should make notes on exactly what occurred, and include information on when and where the potential malpractice took place, what medical personnel were involved, and the current condition of the person who was the alleged victim of malpractice.

Once you have collected this information, you should get in touch with an attorney. At PreCase, we know how important it is to quickly connect with a lawyer you trust in a medical malpractice situation. Our online form makes the process easy; once you fill out the form below, someone will contact you within twenty-four (24) hours.

What kinds of errors by hospitals and doctors result in Medical Malpractice lawsuits?

There are many types of mistakes that could potentially be grounds for a medical malpractice case. One possible factor that may lead to medical malpractice is hospital understaffing, which leads to staff fatigue. A recent study by Kronos determined that a large percentage of nurses admitted to having made errors while working due to fatigue. Among other problems, such errors might result in a patient receiving an incorrect dosage, or even the wrong medication altogether. Weekends are particularly problematic for staffing levels at many hospitals; patients who have are admitted to the ER on the weekend, but do not suffer from traumatic injuries, may not get the care they need in a timely fashion.

Doctors, anesthesiologists, and surgeons may also make errors due to negligence. A doctor may ignore some of a patient’s symptoms, resulting in a delayed diagnosis or a misdiagnosis. An anesthesiologist might harm a patient because they failed to investigate the patient’s medical history. It is even possible that a surgeon makes a serious error during an operation as a result of negligence. All these types of mistakes may be grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit.

What kinds of damages may be awarded in Medical Malpractice cases?

Damages for medical malpractice lawsuits fall into two categories. Economic damages cover clear economic losses on the part of the victim, including lost wages and medical bills related to the malpractice. Non-economic damages, on the other hand, may be awarded for such things as future medical expenses, loss of normal enjoyment of life, pain and suffering, disability, disfigurement, and loss of consortium.