Malpractice by doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals is a growing problem in the United States, with as many as 98,000 deaths resulting every year from preventable medical errors. No less alarming is the fact that hundreds of thousands more suffer serious, sometimes permanent and debilitating injury.

In the medical community, avoidable mistakes are referred to as “never events” – because they should never happen. Doctors have an obligation to adhere to accepted medical standards, and negligence in any form can have devastating and life-threatening consequences for patients.

Injured by a Doctor’s Malpractice?

Laws have been created to protect those injured by doctors’ malpractice. Though laws vary from state-to-state, their primary aim is to:

• Enable those injured by medical malpractice to hold responsible parties accountable and obtain compensation for damages suffered
• Deter doctors and medical professionals from committing acts of negligence

For victims of doctors’ malpractice, the damage isn’t always immediately apparent. However, as soon as malpractice is suspected, injured individuals or their loved ones should talk to an attorney regarding possible legal options.

Types of Doctors Malpractice

There are numerous types of doctor malpractice, but some of the more common include:

• Errors made during delivery, which can result in brain damage to the infant and conditions like cerebral palsy and Erb’s palsy
• Medication mistakes, including ones that involve incorrect doses or giving the wrong medication to a patient
• Negligence during surgery – leaving surgical instruments inside a patient is shockingly common and can lead to severe injury
• Lab errors, such as those involving misinterpreted biopsies, blood tests, x-rays or imaging scans
• Diagnostic mistakes, which can be fatal – particularly in cases involving cancer or heart problems

For victims of these and other types of doctors’ malpractice, the consequences can include nerve damage, disability, pain, organ damage, disfigurement, coma and even death. The emotional, physical and financial effects are enough to overwhelm an individual and his/her family.

Compensation for Doctors Malpractice

Though financial compensation can never fully replace what a victim of doctors’ malpractice has lost, it can at least help to curb medical expenses and additional monetary losses. In fact, if you have suffered because of a doctor’s malpractice, you may be entitled to money for your pain and mental anguish. And if you have lost a family member, you may be entitled to money for the loss of your loved one, their companionship, and/or support, as well as any funeral expenses.

Learn More in a Free Consultation

Every malpractice case is unique, and it’s important for you to seek the counsel of an experienced medical lawyer if you suspect malpractice is to blame for your injuries or those of a loved one. Since medical malpractice claims are subject to legal deadlines, it’s always in your best interest to speak with an attorney as soon as possible.

Contact a doctors malpractice attorney at Burke & Eisner today for a free claim evaluation and find out more about your legal options.

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    --  Call us:  1-800-838-0800

 See Also:

• Medical Malpractice
• Nurse Malpractice

Cerebral Palsy Law Blog