Doctors, nurses, hospitals—everyday they hold in their hands the health and welfare, if not lives, of thousands of Americans. It is a heavy responsibility, which requires constant diligence and care. Unfortunately, fatigue, carelessness, and distractions often take a toll on the level of care those individuals provide. The results can be catastrophic.
Doctors, nurses, hospitals - everyday they hold in their hands the health and welfare, if not lives, of thousands of Americans. It is a heavy responsibility, which requires constant diligence and care. Unfortunately, fatigue, carelessness, and distractions often take a toll on the level of care those individuals provide. The results can be catastrophic.
- A duty owed
- A breach of that duty
- Harm resulting from that breach
Common medical malpractice cases include the following:
- Failure to correctly or appropriately diagnose a medical condition
- Misdiagnosis of a medical condition
- Failure to order appropriate medical tests
- Improper administration of prescription drugs or anesthesia
- Performance of unnecessary surgery or surgery on the incorrect limb, organ, or area of the body
- Medical errors that occur in the emergency room
- Failure to properly monitor a patient’s condition
- Failure to prevent injury at birth
Depending on the circumstances surrounding the case, a patient who has been the victim of medical malpractice may bring a lawsuit against one or more of the following: a health care professional (such as a physician or nurse), the employer of a health care professional (such as a hospital), or a member of a medical support staff (such as a technician).
When an injured patient establishes medical malpractice through a lawsuit, he or she is typically entitled to monetary compensation for certain damages. These damages fall into several categories:
- Medical expenses that were incurred or that may be anticipated for future care
- Loss of employment or of past and future earnings
- Emotional distress
- Pain and suffering
It is important to remember that negative or undesired outcomes of medical treatment, by themselves, are not sufficient to establish medical malpractice. Only when the care falls below the acceptable standard or care does a claim arise. The advice of experienced legal counsel can be invaluable in deciding whether your case amounts to medical malpractice.
The Pennsylvania medical malpractice lawyers of Munley, Munley, & Cartwright, P.C., can help you determine whether medical malpractice has occurred. There are deadlines governing how long someone may wait to bring a medical malpractice claim, so time is of the essence. If you believe you have a medical malpractice claim, contact us today to discuss your case. The Family of Lawyers at Munley, Munley, & Cartwright, P.C., are experienced and successful medical malpractice litigators - we fight to protect the rights of patients.
