Fighting Back Against Negligent Doctors In Mount Laurel
At some point in every person’s life, you are required to trust medical professionals with the health and well-being of both you and your family. Unfortunately, that trust is broken every single day in both hospitals and doctor’s offices across the country.
Anytime you step into a doctor’s office or hospital you expect your symptoms to be evaluated efficiently and accurately to ensure the best possible health outcome. We expect our medical professionals to diagnose and treat our illnesses/injuries within the standards of care set up, followed by the medical community at large.
These standards of care were installed and are followed to provide the safest and most effective care for their patients. Without these standards of care, doctors or hospitals could put their patients at risk through unsafe or unsanitary practices.
It is all too common for patients to receive substandard care, doctors to make mistakes and people to have their lives changed forever. At Flynn Law, we believe that these tragedies should never happen but when they do, we have the best medical malpractice lawyers in New Jersey who will fight tooth and nail to get you the compensation you deserve.
What Is Medical Malpractice?
The terms medical malpractice and medical negligence describe any instance where a medical professional fails to ensure the safety of their patients and leaves them exposed to the possibility of preventable injuries. In the case that a patient experiences a preventable injury due to the malpractice or negligence of a medical professional, they can then file a malpractice lawsuit to hold the responsible party accountable.
For a case to be legally defined as malpractice, a doctor or hospital must have acted outside the bounds of the standards of medical practice. Whether your injuries were due to action or inaction, if the health care professional acted outside the guidelines of standards of practice you may have a medical malpractice case.
It is important to note that any injuries you sustained from the health care provider must be severe to necessitate a medical malpractice lawsuit.
Negligent Actions
While medical professionals take an oath to do no harm, there are many procedures that can do serious harm when applied in the wrong context.
Listed below are some of the most common examples of medical negligence:
- It is possible for doctors to misdiagnose their patients, failing to provide necessary care or treating the wrong condition, which may cause unnecessary harm.
- Prescribing the incorrect drug to treat a disease or condition that may have horrible or possibly, life-threatening side effects. It is also possible for doctors to prescribe medications at radically higher dosages than required.
- In the case of surgery, it is possible for doctors to provide the incorrect surgical procedure, successfully completing an operation on the wrong body part, or leaving foreign and dangerous materials in the body after a procedure.
While the majority of these mistakes show up immediately, it is entirely possible for the effects of a mistake to show up years later while the patient was suffering the whole time. Patients may not receive the care they desperately need because they were misdiagnosed, which means they might not get the medication or surgery necessary to treat their condition.
However, the effects of unneeded surgery or medication can cause tremendous damage through completely avoidable side effects that can possibly be fatal.
Negligent Omissions
While it is more common for negligence to take the form of an ill-advised action it is also possible for health care providers to be negligent in their inaction.
Some of the most common causes of negligent inaction are listed below:
- If a doctor or hospital does not adequately monitor the condition of their patients
- A health care professional not following up with their patients to efficiently communicate test results or the need for further treatment
- Not recognizing or taking a patient’s symptoms or complaints seriously
- Not ordering vital tests or incorrectly assessing the results of those tests
- Not providing treatment in a timely manner
- Not referring patients to a different doctor when the patient has a condition the doctor is unable to treat adequately
Doctors who fail to take action or can still be liable for negligence if their inaction caused the patient further harm or injury.
Types Of Medical Malpractice
Due to the extreme complexity of the health care industry and system, there are many different kinds of medical malpractice lawsuits.
Our Cherry Hill medical malpractice injury attorneys here at Flynn Law, have had experience dealing with a wide range of medical malpractice lawsuits, including:
- Injuries associated with the birthing process whether it involves the mother or the child
- Misdiagnosis of injuries/diseases leading to unnecessary treatment
- Mistreatment that causes further injury or damage to a patient
- A failure to take appropriate actions or steps to get a patient the care they need
Medical negligence can take place in any medical or healthcare facility. We have filed lawsuits on behalf of patients who were mistreated in hospitals, private practice facilities and nursing homes.
Medical Negligence That Causes Birth Injuries
Childbirth, being the most important event in many people’s lives and a delicate process, is critical for doctors and other healthcare providers to follow the standards of care to ensure the safety of both the child and the mother.
Some of the most common sources of health care provider negligence as it pertains to childbirth and postnatal care, are listed below:
- A doctor failing to interpret an ultrasound correctly and take the proper steps to ensure a safe and efficient birth
- Doctors failing to employ C-sections in the correct manner
- Not applying the correct amount of force during delivery and causing unnecessary injuries to the child
- Failing to use forceps and vacuums in a proper manner when completing assisted delivery
- Prescribing incorrect medication or overprescribing pre/post-birth
- Not counseling the parents on possible genetic issues that could arise during, or after childbirth
These injuries can be extremely devastating both mentally and physically for the mother as well as affecting the most fragile population of newborn infants. This kind of negligence can turn a process that should be filled with joy and new possibilities, into both a mental and physical nightmare.
Negligent Misdiagnosis
In most cases catching a disease or condition early leads to a better prognosis or possibly, a lifesaving treatment that must be administered early to be effective. For example, with breast cancer, doctors regularly order tests that lead to early detection. Early detection ensures the best possible prognosis.
Due to the importance of timing in a diagnosis, a misdiagnosis can be extremely dangerous and lead to negative effects for the rest of your life. A misdiagnosis can lead to delays in treatment. A delay may ultimately prevent successful treatment. A delay can allow time for the disease to spread, causing irreparable damage to your body.
Listed below are some of the most common ways that misdiagnosis can occur:
- Doctors don’t listen to a patient’s complaints and therefore, fail to order the correct tests. These tests, if conducted, could ensure that your complaints and symptoms aren’t connected to a disease or condition.
- The doctor incorrectly reads the test results, or disregards the test results, thereby preventing any timely diagnoses or treatments.
When a doctor misdiagnoses their patient it can lead to possibly life-long injuries, disease complications, or even be fatal. When a doctor misdiagnoses their patient, it is vital that they are held accountable for the damage that they caused so that they are never allowed to do that kind of damage again.
Why Do I Need A Medical Malpractice Lawyer?
Navigating a medical malpractice claim can be incredibly complex and challenging without specialized legal expertise. A medical malpractice lawyer is crucial for several reasons and can make a huge difference in the outcome of your case.
We have a deep understanding of the laws and regulations that govern health care and patient rights. We are equipped to handle the intricate legal and medical issues that typically arise in these cases. Proving malpractice requires a robust collection and analysis of medical records, expert testimony and other critical evidence. We know how to gather the necessary documentation, consult with medical experts who can substantiate your claim and effectively interpret medical jargon.
Medical professionals and health care facilities have strong legal teams and insurance representatives who handle malpractice claims. Our attorneys can negotiate effectively with these entities to ensure that your rights are protected and that you receive fair compensation. We can also help maximize your compensation. We understand the full extent of damages that you can claim in a medical malpractice case. We will work tirelessly to help you obtain the compensation that you deserve.
Don’t Wait To Get Started On Your Claim
If a medical professional broke your trust and caused a new or worsened injury, contact the attorneys at Flynn Law, today to get started on your medical malpractice case. We offer free consultations at our Mount Laurel office and we can also meet with you virtually, in your home or at the hospital. To reach us, call 888-774-2960 or fill out our online contact form.