Medical Malpractice
Being the 3rd leading cause of death in the United States we take this topic very seriously. Medical Malpractice is a complex legal issue that we believe deserves the utmost attention of Attorneys. We have provided below some key facts and terms that we believe our community needs to be aware of.
Everyone has to rely on a medical practitioner at some point in their life. We trust that these doctors and nurses are capable and trained professionals who only have their patients’ best interests at heart. Unfortunately, there are many avoidable medical errors each year in our Country.
While not all bad medical outcomes are caused by medical malpractice, some are the direct result of a medical professional’s oversight and negligence, and can lead to serious physical, emotional, and financial harm to patients. Pursuing a medical malpractice case in situations like these is not easy. Proving a doctor failed to meet the “standard of care” — or the level of care that a competent and skilled doctor is expected to provide for their patient — is very difficult.
Fortunately, at our office we are experienced in taking on negligent medical professionals, and we’re not afraid to go to court to help clients who have been devastated by substandard care if that’s what it takes to obtain justice.
Types of Malpractice
Most medical malpractice suits can be put into one of the following main categories of physician negligence:
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misdiagnosis or mismanagement of care
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negligence affecting pregnancy and childbirth
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mistakes in prescribing or administering medication
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surgical errors
Damagesddd
Statute of Limitations
Standard of Care
Damages
Statute of Limitations- In Georgia the statute of limitations for medical malpractice is a crucial issue. A claim must be filed within a strict time frame. It is important to get legal advice about a possible claim as soon as possible. It is not always easy to determine when a claim arises and the Statue of Limitations expires. We can help you determine if your claim may still be brought.
Standard of Care- Is defined as the level and type of care that a reasonably competent and skilled health care professional, with a similar background and in the same medical community, would have provided under the circumstances that led to the alleged malpractice. In a medical malpractice lawsuit, it is almost always a qualified expert medical witness who will testify as to what the appropriate medical standard of care was under the circumstances and how the doctor’s deviation from that standard played a role in the plaintiff’s injuries.
Damages- Every case has certain damage components. These include:
1. Medical Bills
2. Lost Wages
3. Permanent Disability
4. Pain and Suffering
5. Life Care Plan
To sum it up, damages is your story, what the impact of your injury has been on your life. It is our job to help you tell your story.
Record setting $26 million dollar medical malpractice verdict.
These cases are time sensitive and we recommend you reach out to an attorney as soon as possible
P: 706-324-5606
Frequently asked questions
Q. What is a medical malpractice case?
A. Medical malpractice occurs when a health care provider delivers faulty, substandard, or negligent treatment that results in injury or death to the patient. However, not all bad outcomes are caused by medical malpractice. In order to demonstrate medical malpractice, you must prove: (1) That there was a doctor-patient relationship and the doctor had a duty to provide care. (2) The provided care and treatment fell below accepted medical standards. In other words, is it likely that another doctor would have made a similar mistake? (3) The patient suffered harm as a result of the provided care. The harm suffered is quantifiable.
Q. Can I file a malpractice suit against a healthcare provider other than a doctor?
A. Yes, Anyone who provides healthcare services may be named as a defendant in a medical malpractice lawsuit.
Q. Can a misdiagnosis be considered medical malpractice?
A. If your doctor incorrectly diagnoses you, and you suffered harm due to that misdiagnosis, you may be able to seek legal compensation through a medical malpractice case.
Q. How do you prove Medical Malpractice has occurred?
A.Not every mistake made by a healthcare provider is medical malpractice. In order to prove medical malpractice has occurred, you must show that the healthcare provider failed to meet the Standard of Care, and that his or her failure caused injury. This is done through expert medical testimony.
We Can Help
If our FAQ didn’t answer your medical malpractice lawsuit questions, please contact us today by calling 706-324-5606 or emailing us at info@dodgenlaw.com. Mr. Dodgen has years of experience fighting for victims of medical malpractice, and he may be able to help if you or someone you love was hurt because of a medical error.