MEDICAL MALPRACTICE

     As patients, we trust that our doctors, nurses, surgeons, and pharmacists are ethical, properly trained, and trustworthy. However, sometimes despite their experience, medical professionals make mistakes because of poor judgment, negligence or malicious intent, or simply because they are overworked, under-assisted, or under-qualified. Regardless of the reason, the mistakes are unacceptable always; in fact, often they are punishable by law. This highly sensitive area of law, called medical malpractice (or medical negligence), is a division of personal injury. If you feel that you are a victim of medical malpractice, the information below will expand your knowledge. The next step is to contact a personal injury attorney in your area to learn how to file medical malpractice claims and cases.

The Prevalence of Medical Malpractice

According to the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, medical malpractice is regarded as between the fifth and eighth leading cause of death in the United States . Researchers report that roughly 5 to 10 percent of all patients who are admitted to hospitals this year will fall victim to medical negligence, whether in the form of a surgical mistake, wrong prescription, birth injury, or other type of error. Based on these hospitals' past records, this statistic seems accurate; annually, up to 98,000 people die from preventable medical errors, 2 million patients contract infections in hospitals, and approximately 90,000 die from infections caused by inadequate sanitation methods (i.e. infrequent hand washing).

If you have been a victim of medical malpractice, you may be eligible to file a personal injury claim . Contact our medical malpractice specialist at 1-800-278-1538 or fill out the online Free Evaluation .

Types of Medical Malpractice Cases And Claims

Medical malpractice may be the cause of any injury suffered at the hand of a physician, surgeon, nurse, hospital, medical laboratory, clinic, dentist, or other type of medical provider. Some of the most common medical malpractice cases and claims include:

•  -Pediatric malpractice

•  -Radiation malpractice

•  -Breast cancer malpractice

•  -Plastic surgery malpractice

•  -Dental malpractice

•  -Cancer misdiagnosis

•  -Amputation of the wrong limb

•  -Prescription errors

•  -Emergency room negligence

•  -Anesthesia accidents

•  -Uterine rupture

•  -Birth complications

•  -C-section complications

•  -Misread X-rays/mammograms

•  -Faulty blood transfusions

•  -Hospital/ medical negligence

•  -Failure to provide appropriate treatment

•  -Treatment delays

Informed Consent and Medical Malpractice

For most increased-risk procedures, such as organ transplants, medical professionals require patients to sign consent forms prior to surgery. These consent forms prove that the victims were cognizant of the inherent risks prior to their procedures. However, if medical professionals provide substandard care, they are not authorized to fall back on these informed consent forms. For example, if a patient undergoing liposuction dies because her doctor failed to catch an infection, the doctor still can be found guilty of medical malpractice or negligence, even if the patient had signed a consent form.

If you signed a consent form for a medical procedure but were injured because of your medical professional's mistake, you may be eligible to file a medical malpractice claim. To find out more, contact one of our medical malpractice attorneys.

Pursuing Your Medical Malpractice Case

If you think you are a victim of medical malpractice, consider the following:

Observe Your State's Statute Of Limitations

It is critical to file your medical malpractice claim as soon as you become aware of the personal injury. The statute of limitations varies from state to state; therefore, it is vital to contact one of our Massachusetts personal injury attorneys today.

Obtain Copies of Your Medical Records

If you feel that you are a victim of medical negligence, we recommend that you obtain your medical records. You have the right to review your own charts and information, despite the defendant's potential efforts to prevent you from doing so. These records will help us build a solid case.