When people go to the hospital or seek treatment from a physician, they expect to get better. They anticipate that their future will be brighter and without pain because they sought the help of a medical professional. But when turning to a licensed professional for help causes injury or worsening of a condition, victims can get compensation for their losses. Medical malpractice claims for different types of medical negligence include birth injuries, hospital malpractice, medication errors, and more.
Suppose you have suffered injuries due to medical negligence. In that case, the Jonesboro medical malpractice attorneys at T. Madden & Associates P. C. can help you recover damages in a personal injury claim. Our former clients recommend us to others because we are thorough, detailed, and aggressive in negotiations, but very compassionate towards our clients. We understand how important it is for you to move on with your life and from this painful experience. A medical malpractice attorney from T. Madden & Associates P. C. can review your medical records and hire medical experts, if needed, to provide helpful testimony and evaluate your evidence.
T. Madden & Associates P. C is a proudly black owned business who has been serving the community for years. Read on to learn more about how we can assist you in the Jonesboro area.
What is medical malpractice?
A medical malpractice case arises when medical professionals injure patients due to negligence or an act of omission. Health care providers are held to a reasonable standard of care that they owe to their patients.
In order to win a medical malpractice claim, your attorney will have to prove the following elements:
- The medical professional owed a duty of care to the patient and established a doctor-patient relationship once the patient sought help to treat a medical condition or get a medical procedure
- The doctor, nurse, hospital, or other provider breached the standard of care
- The patient was injured as a direct result of the negligence or error
- The patient suffered damages, such as lost wages, additional medical bills, disability, or additional pain and suffering
Scheduling a free consultation with one of our medical malpractice lawyers can help you determine if you have a valid case.
Common Medical Malpractice Cases
There are different yet common types of medical negligence and errors.
Hospital Negligence
Doctors make emergency room errors when they miss signs of heart attack or contagious disease, fail to treat a blood clot or pulmonary embolism, or when they ignore signs of serious injury or conditions such as organ failure. Discharging a patient prematurely, failing to provide proper follow-up instructions, and failing to order imaging tests to diagnose medical conditions are all examples of how a hospital can harm patients.
Surgical Errors
An injury caused by a mistake made during a surgical procedure can lead to a personal injury claim in Jonesboro. Common types of surgical errors include:
- Performing surgery on the wrong body part or the wrong patient
- Using too much or too little anesthesia or not being aware of a patient’s allergies to anesthesia
- Leaving instruments or other foreign objects inside the patient
- Damaging a nerve during surgery
- Infections
Medication Errors
7,000 to 9,000 people die as a result of medication errors in the U.S. every year. Doctors do not get the same amount of training on prescription medications as pharmacists do, but rarely do they talk to each other before a patient is given medication. Even pharmacists can administer the wrong drug or the wrong dose of a drug despite being licensed and entrusted with patient safety in this regard. Common medication errors include dose miscalculations, incorrect drug administration, inadequate patient education, and incorrect diagnosis. They can be caused by poor handwriting or misunderstanding symbols on medication instructions.
Prescribing or administering the wrong medication can lead to catastrophic injuries. Contact the medical malpractice lawyers at T. Madden & Associates P.C. now.
Birth Injuries
Medical malpractice claims involving birth injuries are especially traumatizing. What should have been one of the best days of a parent’s life turns into a stressful nightmare. Caring for your baby and trying to file a medical malpractice claim against your OB/GYN can be extremely stressful, but we are here to take that stress off your shoulders so that you can focus your energy on your little one. Some of the most common birth injuries include:
- Brachial plexus injuries
- Brain Damage
- Cerebral Palsy
- Erb’s Palsy
- Klumpke’s Palsy
- Oxygen deprivation
- Paralysis
- Spinal cord injuries
Misdiagnosis and Missed Diagnosis
Often these terms are used interchangeably, but they characterize two different ways that medical professionals can be negligent. Misdiagnosis occurs when a physician reviews all of your lab tests and exams, family history, and symptoms but diagnoses you with the wrong ailment. As a result, you may be prescribed the wrong medications. Missed diagnosis, on the other hand, is when a physician should have recognized a medical condition but didn’t. Missed diagnosis also includes when a physician should have ordered certain tests to rule out other illnesses or to hone in on what specifically is ailing you. But they don’t and miss an opportunity to catch an illness before it progresses.
How should I prepare for my initial consultation with a medical malpractice lawyer?
Your first consultation is an opportunity for you to ask questions, provide details about what you remember and what you have experienced, and understand your lawyers’ fees and payment structure. You can help by assembling relevant documents and writing down a timeline of events. You should also keep a log of all associated expenses and copies of your bills, invoices, or receipts. We recommend that you come in with:
- A list of questions that you have
- A daily journal that gives a clear picture of how your doctor’s negligence has impacted your daily life
- All of your medical records
We work on a contingency fee basis. This means that not only do you get to set up a free case review with one of our attorneys, we only charge you for legal services if we win your case. We are happy to answer all of your questions and explain to you your rights under Georgia law.