Medical malpractice happens when a healthcare professional or facility fails to provide the level of care that their patients and the medical community expect, resulting in harm to a patient. To prove medical malpractice has taken place, you must establish the healthcare provider was negligent. This requires evidence that the provider did not meet the standard of care that society expects from them.
When you are the victim of medical negligence, a seasoned personal injury attorney can help. Pursuing legal action against well-funded hospitals and doctors is never easy on your own, so let a Stone Mountain medical malpractice lawyer take the lead on this important legal claim.
Types of Medical Malpractice
Acts of medical malpractice vary: they can occur when a doctor misdiagnoses or fails to identify a condition, during surgical procedures, or when a pharmacist dispenses an incorrect medication or dosage. A Stone Mountain medical malpractice attorney can help with any of these incidents by reviewing medical records and identifying where a doctor, nurse, or facility went wrong.
Misdiagnosis
One of the most dangerous errors a doctor can make is an incorrect diagnosis. While doctors cannot perfectly identify every illness or condition they come across, they face liability when they miss signs that most doctors of their experience would have noticed.
Delayed Diagnosis
When a doctor initially fails to recognize the nature or extent of a condition, the subsequent delay in medical care can be as damaging as failing to diagnose a condition altogether.
Surgical Errors
Errors during surgery can result in new, avoidable injuries—and sometimes fail to address the condition that prompted the surgery in the first place.
Failure to Treat
A proper diagnosis does little good when the patient never receives the appropriate care. Examples of failure to treat include when doctors forget to prescribe appropriate medications for a patient or a hospital fails to update patient records after a visit.
Time Limits on Filing a Malpractice Lawsuit
Any patient injured due to an act of negligence by a healthcare provider has a limited window of time to file a lawsuit. This deadline is referred to as the statute of limitations. A Stone Mountain attorney can ensure someone complies with the statute of limitations in a medical malpractice case.
Most of the time, Georgia imposes a two-year time limit on filing a medical malpractice lawsuit. This time is typically measured from when the condition is discovered, as opposed to when the negligent act that caused the condition occurred.
The exception is when surgical items are left in the human body following a procedure. In those situations, a patient has one year to file a lawsuit, beginning on the date the object is discovered.
Contact a Stone Mountain Medical Malpractice Attorney Right Away
Medical malpractice can be life-changing, but it does not have to mean emptying your bank account to pay the medical bills. A successful civil case could provide you with the resources you need to live comfortably. Reach out to a Stone Mountain medical malpractice lawyer at Childers, Schlueter & Smith and schedule a free consultation with a member of our team.
