The purpose of personal injury lawsuits is to make a person whole again, as much as possible, after an injury. The same can be said of a medical malpractice lawsuit. However, holding medical professionals and facilities responsible for negligent conduct that harms patients helps to improve the entire healthcare industry. A medical malpractice lawsuit could change the way a hospital operates or how a particular treatment is conducted.
If you or a loved one was injured because of the negligent conduct of a medical professional or healthcare facility, contact our Chester County medical malpractice lawyer at the Reiff Law Firm. By speaking with our experienced attorneys, you will understand your options and whether you have a valid legal claim. Call (215) 709-6940 to schedule a free consultation and discuss your case.
What is Medical Malpractice in Chester County?
Medical malpractice is a term people often hear. They might believe it occurs whenever a doctor or another healthcare professional makes a mistake. However, not every error constitutes medical malpractice. A patient could experience negative side-effects and unforeseen complications without having the basis of a malpractice claim. Additionally, a poor or tragic outcome is not evidence that your doctor made an inexcusable mistake. If you are the victim of a medical error, our experienced Chester County medical malpractice attorney is ready to assist you.
For a decision, action, or omission to be malpractice, it must be medical negligence. Medical negligence means that the medical professional failed to adhere to the acceptable standard of medical care. It could also exist if a healthcare professional did not obtain a patient’s informed consent before treatment. If you have a question about whether or not your doctor’s error was medical malpractice, contact our Chester County medical malpractice attorney.
Adhering to the acceptable standard of medical care means that a healthcare professional is required to exercise a degree of expertise, skill, and care that is expected of a similarly prudent and trained medical professional, in the same area of practice, under the same circumstances.
To illustrate the above, suppose your cardiologist examines you and misinterprets a diagnostic test. Because of the misdiagnosis, you suffer a heart attack a few months later. If a reasonably prudent cardiologist had read the test correctly, your doctor could have committed medical malpractice. However, if other similarly trained cardiologists could have read the test results, in the same way, you likely do not have a case. Our Chester County medical malpractice lawyers are committed to holding healthcare professionals responsible when their errors constitute malpractice.
Medical professionals could also be guilty of medical malpractice if they fail to get a patient’s informed consent before a procedure. You are entitled to be informed of all material facts regarding your medical condition before you decide on treatment. This information must include all the potential risks involved with a course of treatment. There is an exception for emergency care.
Types of Medical Malpractice in Chester County
Our Chester County medical malpractice lawyer handles many types of cases where medical professionals make unjustifiable mistakes. Chester County healthcare providers make two common errors involving the collecting and communication of information and decisions regarding diagnoses and treatment.
Miscommunication of Information
Communication and information are critical to treating a patient and adhering to the acceptable standard of care. Costly treatment decisions could be made if a doctor fails to obtain a patient’s full medical history. This error could occur if a doctor simply fails to ask the right questions or if a patient’s health history is improperly inputted into a computer.
Without accurate information, mistakes could occur that seriously harm a patient. Medical professionals who lack information can easily misdiagnose their patients, prescribe the wrong medication, or perform the wrong type of surgery.
Misdiagnosis or Mistreatment
Even with the correct information, medical professionals could still fail to adhere to the acceptable standard of care. Sometimes, a medical professional will exercise poor judgment or will act carelessly.
When a medical professional has a lapse in judgment, skill, or concentration, it could have devastating consequences for a patient. For example, a surgeon could miss a critical part of a surgical procedure, or a doctor could neglect to order a necessary diagnostic test. Furthermore, a doctor might fail to recognize the symptoms of an underlying medical condition and misdiagnose the patient’s illness. When this occurs, a patient might undergo unnecessary medical treatment while a more severe disease is allowed to progress. Unfortunately, many complications could alter a person’s life or are fatal if not properly treated.
If you have suffered harm because of a medical professional’s negligence, our Chester County medical malpractice attorney will help you seek compensation through a lawsuit. When a doctor or another healthcare provider makes an inexcusable mistake, they should be held liable for the harm they caused.
Damages in Chester County Medical Practice Lawsuits
Victims of medical malpractice could seek economic and non-economic damages through a personal injury lawsuit.
Economic damages will typically compensate a victim of medical malpractice for their out-of-pocket expenses associated with their injury. These damages include medical bills, long-term care costs, physical therapy, medical equipment, required home renovations, lost income, and reimbursement for decreased earning capacity.
Non-economic damages are available for subjective harm and are much more challenging to calculate. A victim of medical malpractice could seek compensation for pain and suffering, impacts on their quality of life, and the difficulty in dealing with the unforeseen medical complications. Our Chester County medical malpractice lawyer will work with you to estimate a reasonable amount.
Call Our Chester County Medical Malpractice Lawyer for a Free Consultation
People in Chester County put faith in their medical professionals and healthcare workers to provide quality care and treatment. When medical professionals make incorrect decisions or grievous errors, a patient could suffer tragic consequences. Our Chester County medical malpractice lawyers at the Reiff Law Firm are dedicated to holding negligent medical professionals accountable for their negligent conduct and harm they caused. If you or a loved one suffered harm due to medical malpractice, call (215) 709-6940 to schedule a free consultation.
