Medical malpractice is professional negligence performed by a health care provider in which care provided does not meet acceptable standards of practice in the medical community and causes injury to the patient. Standards and regulations for medical malpractice vary by country and jurisdiction within countries.
An article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) noted that every year in the United States 12,000 patient deaths due to unnecessary surgery, 7,000 deaths caused by medication errors in hospitals, and 20,000 deaths from other errors in hospitals. The Journal of the American Association for Justice stated that a decade ago as many as 98,000 people died 'every year from preventable medical errors, costing the nation an estimated $29 Billion.'
If you are the victom of Medical Malpractice, you need a lawyer or attorney to tell you your rights. The law relating to medical malpractice is very complex. Experienced medical malpractice lawyers keep abreast of the current law and know how to apply those laws in court to bring the most benefit to you.
Not all medical errors constitute medical malpractice. Doctors are allowed to make mistakes. However, only negligent medical errors will constitute a successful medical malpractice legal claim. You need a lawyer or attorney to advise you as to whether the mistake made by a physician or medical caregiver was negligent.
If the medical caregiver was negligent (ie. did not meet the standard of care and that failure to meet the standard of care has caused compensable damages to you), you need a lawyer or attorney to fight for fair compensation for your injuries resulting from the medical malpractice.
Do you know whether you meet the legal tests for compensation for your injuries arising from a medical mistake? Do you know the evidence necessary to prove that the medical caregiver was negligent? Do you know how to prove that your suffering was caused by the medical mistake? You need a lawyer / attorney to provide you with the answers and to make sure that you receive the maximum compensation to which you are entitled.
There are very strict time limits for bringing medical malpractice actions to the attention of the courts. If you fail to meet those time limitations you will lose your right to sue. You need a lawyer or attorney to advise you of those time limitations and file your claim with the court before you lose your right to sue.
It is often difficult to know if you need a lawyer / attorney. However, if you believe that you are the victim of medical malpractice, you need a lawyer or attorney to provide you with advice. Injury Alliance will help you find the lawyer or attorney you need. Contact Injury Alliance to be directed to an experienced Medical Malpractice Lawyer or Attorney near you. Your initial consultation with this lawyer or attorney will be free.
Now that you know the facts and see how many deaths are caused every year due to negligence by doctors and other health care professionals, let Injury Alliance help you find a Medical Malpractice Lawyer in your area. It only takes a few seconds, and better yet, It' FREE. We can put you in contact with someone who knows about medical problems and medical law, someone who can accurately get your claim to the courts as soon as possible. A Medical Malpractice Lawyer knows your options and can guide you in the best direction available. Let them deal with the paperwork and fight for your legal rights while you focus on your recovery.
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If you have been waiting to ‘see what happens’ with your injury or have not decided whether to pursue legal action, remember that there are time limitations, known as the Statute of Limitations, that you must meet or else you run the risk of not being able to sue at all. Generally the statute of limitations is shorter for medical malpractice suits than for most other types of law. Even if you are not sure about filing a claim, you should talk to a medical malpractice lawyer right away.
If medical malpractice has been confirmed, it is still necessary to show that the patient has experienced some injury or harm. If a Medical Malpractice Lawyer has proven Injury or harm, then you may be compensated for:
- Pain and Suffering
- Medical Expenses
- Special health care aids and equipment
- Adapted accommodation and transport
- Care and Assistance
- Lost Wages (Past and Future)
- Assistance for household Chores
- Travel expenses
- Other General Expenses
There are a few different views on when the medical malpractice statute of limitations begin. One view is that the time begins when the injury occurred as a result of the act. For instance, if the injury occurred as a result of an unnecessary surgery, the time begins on the date the surgery was completed. Another view is that the time begins when the injury was discovered or should have been discovered. A third view is that the time begins when the treatment is complete. Contact a medical malpractice lawyer to find out more about your area.
Anesthesia Errors: Anesthesia is given to patients to block sensations, in this case, pain. This allows doctors to perform surgery on patients without the patients feeling any discomfort. Current statistics indicate that 1 in every 200,000 to 300,000 patients will die because anesthesia errors. Anesthesia is normally administered by a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). CRNAs work with your surgeon, dentist or podiatrist, and may work with an anesthesiologist, who is a physician trained in the specialty of anesthesia. Improper use of the anesthetic and equipment can result in serious physical impairment or death. Contact a Medical Malpractice Lawyer.
Birth Errors: A wonderful and joyous occasion can quickly turn to tragedy as a result of birth errors. Birth Injuries can include ERB’s Palsy or Brain Damage resulting in Cerebral Palsy. Contact a Medical Malpractice Lawyer.
Defective Drugs or Products: Patients need to be properly warned about the dangers associated with drugs and medical products. If you were injured as a result of defective drugs or faulty medical products you should contact a Medical Malpractice Lawyer as soon as possible, you may be entitled to compensation from the hospital, doctor, manufacturer or distributor.
Medical Experimentation: If you have suffered an injury as a result of experimental drugs or unapproved medical procedures, you are likely eligible to file a medical malpractice lawsuit.
Improper Diagnosis: Even after receiving adequate information from patients, medical professionals still make erroneous diagnosis resulting in personal injury or death. Patients should contact a Medical Malpractice Lawyer immediately.
Medication Errors: Errors in proper medicating occur approximately 30,000 to 180,000 times per year. This can happen when doctors hand written prescription are illegible to pharmacists, abbreviations are used, when two drugs with similar spellings get confused or when the wrong dosage is prescribed. Issuing inappropriate amounts of medication, incorrect instructions or prescribing the wrong medication can have severe consequences. Contact a Medical Malpractice Lawyer.
Nursing Home Abuse: If you or someone you know has been abused or neglected by nursing home staff, you should contact a Medical Malpractice Lawyer. Abuse does not include only neglect; it could be physical, emotional, psychological or financial abuse as well.
Surgical Errors: If you feel that any part of your surgery, including the preparation, surgical procedure, or post surgical care was inappropriate, you should contact a Medical Malpractice Lawyer. This could also include a surgeon leaving a medical instrument in the body after surgery or unnecessary surgery.
Wrongful Death: When a death occurs as a result of medical malpractice, negligence or other liability, the surviving dependents or beneficiaries are entitled to monetary damages in order to help defray medical cost and other expenses incurred by the family of the victim.
The time that you have to contact a medical malpractice lawyer varies from state to state and Province to Province. Contact Injury Alliance to find an experienced Medical Malpractice Lawyer who can help you with your case.
If you have suffered or are suffering from any of the above mentioned, or are still unsure if you should file a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit, contact a Medical Malpractice Lawyer Immediately.
For more information on Medical Malpractice, try the following Links:
Has Medical Malpractice Affected you?
Doctors Oath - Above all cause no harm
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- Albert Einstein
October 8, 2009
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Web Seminar
Speaker: Christine Murray, Injury Lawyer @ Murray Ralston