Pennsylvania Medical Malpractice Lawyer

Whether visiting the emergency room following a minor sports mishap or seeking treatment options for a chronic or debilitating condition, almost everyone has a need for at least occasional interaction with medical professionals.

When it comes time to utilize any sort of health care services, patients have little choice but to place a great deal of trust in the physicians, nurses, hospital facilities and others whose job it is to help.

In most instances, the reliance individuals have on the training and quality of medical professionals is, in fact, well-placed. However, each year there are an unacceptable number of situations in which a range of medical mistakes, misdiagnoses or other professional errors rise to the level of actionable malpractice.

When the negligence of this type results in significant harm and possibly a lifetime of consequences, a Pennsylvania medical malpractice lawyer can provide victims with the legal advocacy and client service they deserve.

Fundamentals of Medical Malpractice Lawsuits

In order to prevail in a medical malpractice action, a patient needs to have suffered demonstrable harm due to a doctor or other medical professional’s failure to live up to the accepted standard of care under the specific circumstances presented.

Prospective plaintiffs need to understand that just because they are dissatisfied with their care or experienced an undesirable outcome, it does not necessarily follow that malpractice in fact occurred.

Rather, their Pennsylvania medical malpractice lawyer will need to establish that the healthcare provider in question fell below the relevant level of judgment, skill or competence required of him or her.

The elements of any medical malpractice case are straightforward. Victims must show that there was, in fact, a doctor-patient relationship when the harm occurred, that the professional in question did not meet the appropriate standard of medical care and that his or her failings were the direct cause of the injuries sustained.

Every such matter is unique and requires collaboration between attorneys, medical experts, eyewitnesses, case investigators, economic loss professionals and others in order to build a persuasive argument for compensation.

How Medical Malpractice Frequently Occurs

The field of medicine these days is extraordinarily complex and those working within it regularly work near-miracles.

However, the breadth of modern healthcare and the impressive number of specialties within in it make potential malpractice scenarios seemingly innumerable. It should be noted, though, that there are certain sorts of claims which appear to be more frequent in their occurrence than others.

For instance, researchers published in the Journal of the American Medical Association have found that missed, delayed or error-ridden diagnoses are implicated in upwards of 20 percent of all malpractice cases. Some other commonly-litigated injuries stem from instances of:

  • Drug administration errors
  • Botched labor and delivery processes
  • Hospital maintenance/design negligence
  • Surgical errors
  • Negligent administration of anesthesia
  • Misinterpretation of laboratory testing
  • Delayed diagnoses
  • Failure to monitor post-operative patients for infection

Key Reasons for Filing a Medical Malpractice Action

There can be no doubt about the fact that each and every year, incidents involving medical malpractice leave victims and their families struggling with an entirely new set of challenges that can be physical, emotional and financial in nature. Unanticipated medical bills, lost wages, therapy costs and other expenses can place future economic survival in real jeopardy.

For these reasons, it is often wise to enlist the aid of a Pennsylvania medical malpractice lawyer who will leave no stone unturned in the pursuit of maximum compensation as well as accountability from responsible parties.

Monetary recovery for medical malpractice plaintiffs can be quite substantial, with the Bureau of Justice Statistics having reported that average awards in cases heard by juries have historically been 17 times larger than those yielded in all other tort categories.

Compensation for those who have suffered losses due to medical malpractice can encompass payments for things such as:

  • Physical pain and agony
  • Emotional distress
  • Past, present, and future medical costs
  • Rehabilitation and physical therapy expenses
  • Lost wages and diminished earning power
  • Disfigurement
  • Dependent’s loss of financial support
  • Burial costs, where applicable

Consulting with a Pennsylvania Medical Malpractice Lawyer

Failure on the part of a trusted medical professional to meet the relevant standard of care inevitably engenders real feelings of betrayal among those affected.

When a departure from accepted practice leads to serious injury or death, victims and their loved ones deserve an aggressive advocate to fight on their behalf. To gain greater insights about your legal options, contact our Pennsylvania medical malpractice lawyer today.