What is medical malpractice?
When a medical care professional performs below the standard level care and a patient is harmed or killed as a result, it is medical malpractice. Medical malpractice can mean failure to take the proper action or taking inappropriate action in the care of a patient.
Who can be held responsible for medical malpractice?
Any health care professional or institution can be held responsible for medical malpractice. This includes:
- Doctors
- Nurses
- Emergency room staff
- Hospitals
- Surgeons
- Anesthesiologists
- Government institutions
- Pharmaceutical companies
- Dentists
What kind of compensation am I entitled to for medical malpractice?
Compensation will depend on the extent of harm and the extent of the negligence that caused the harm, and can include:
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of income
- Past and future medical expenses
- Permanent disability
- Disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Long-term care
- Loss of companionship
- Burial costs
- Punitive damages
What does “statute of limitations” mean?
The statute of limitations is the amount of time you have to initiate your lawsuit, before losing the right to pursue compensation. This time limit varies by State and according to the nature of the malpractice and the type of responsible party. Normally if the responsible party is a government entity your time limit will be very short. The time period usually begins from the time of the incident that caused the injury, but in some cases will begin when you become aware that malpractice has occurred.
What should I do if I think I am a victim of medical malpractice?
Contact an experienced medical malpractice attorney right away. You will need to have an independent medical assessment. Write down everything that has happened and how it has affected your life. Keep all receipts for any and all expenses resulting from the medical malpractice and a record of any loss of income. Obtain copies of all of your medical records.
If a patient dies from medical malpractice, can the family still receive compensation?
Yes, loved ones can receive compensation for many things associated with a death from medical malpractice including:
- Medical bills
- Burial expenses
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of financial support
- Emotional suffering
If you or a loved one has suffered or died as a result of medical malpracticecontact an experienced medical malpractice attorney today.
