Residents of Palm Beach County rely on skilled medical professionals on a daily basis to assist them with any medical conditions or injuries that they may acquire. Regretfully, relying on someone means that you can often be let down, which is no different with health care providers. As a result of failing to provide patients with care that is of high-quality, patients endure severe injuries and even die. If medical negligence played a role in the injury or death of the victim, then there may be enough viable grounds for the victim to proceed with a litigation for a West Palm Beach medical malpractice.
No one ever imagines that the worse can happen, but the reality is that, thousands and thousands of individuals seeking medical care are becoming victims of medical negligence. Destructive reprecussions are coming to those patients who are having medical professionals care for them without adhering to the standard of care. When medical negligence that has been performed by a health care professional like a nurse, physician, dentist, surgeon, or other individual takes place, a medical malpractice West Palm Beach lawyer can come to the rescue of that victim. While recovering for damages endured does not take the emotional trauma or physical pain away, it can help the victim financially.
Are medical facilities and individuals that practice medicine trying to reduce medical negligence? There have been some things that have been done, but despite the efforts, malpractice is continuing to rise. The firm wants to try and reduce the number of malpractice cases in West Palm Beach.
How Can a Medical Malpractice Lawyer in West Palm Beach Assist Me?
It is not wise to delay in contacting an experienced attorney for medical malpractice in West Palm Beach if there are suspicions that a loved one or oneself has become a target of medical negligence. Assistance can be provided in a number of ways for victims. Lawyers will carefully examine the case without charging the prospective client a dime. Here is some evidence that the firm will gather for their clients:
All documentation and elements that are related to the claim will be obtained, this includes:
- Notes from the physician
- Results of tests performed like CT scans, blood tests, EKG’s, and more)
- Information on any prescriptions that were given
- Forms of the discharge and admission
- Records prior to injury
- Clarity by medical expert
- Records of the physician
- Receipts and bills of all expenses
- Witness interviews
- Records of the hospital
- Injury personal account
Percy Martinez West Palm Beach Firm of Medical Malpractice accomplished attorneys will not rest until all relevant information has been compiled together to form a solid case. Here is further detail about some information that will be obtained:
Records of the Hospital
The records of the medical facility that the victim attended will be obtained. Any previous claims of medical malpractice will help prove that the facility has a pattern of medical negligence. This will solidify the case.
Records of the Physician
The physician’s history will be review by the team of expert medical negligence litigators. If there were instances of similar negligence, this will be an asset for the victim’s case.
Receipts and Bills of all Expenses
All expenses and bills that have derived due to the medical negligence that caused the victim’s injury will be gathered by the lawyer for medical negligence. This will help the jury and judge, along with the lawyer, determine the economic damages that the plaintiff could be entitled to.
Injury Personal Account
It is advisable to keep a daily journal that states all the struggles that the victim is currently facing due to the effects of the injury endured. It is best to note it on a day to day basis. The more information, the more potential for compensation.
Situations Where Medical Negligence by a West Palm Beach Medical Professional or Facility Can Happen
Not only can medical malpractice happen by a variety of medical practitioner, including dentists, nursing staff, physicians, and surgeons, but it can take place through a variety of situations like during an office visit, during a procedure, and even while undergoing treatment. Below are the variety of medical negligence cases that can be grounds for a litigation:
Not Obtaining Information of the Patient
Obtaining information of the patient is a vital part of any treatment or care that will be given. Without information on the patient, it would be difficult to determine the appropriate measures to take. In addition, the lack of information poses a great threat to the patient and leaves them in the path of serious harm. This form of negligence can be seen in the following ways:
- Not having the patient’s informed consent
- Not acquiring the medical history of the patient
- Not effectively communicating with and listening to the patient
Mistakes During Medication
Overcoming and managing a medical condition can be done with the aid of medication. Yet, the health and life of a patient can be put at risks when a mistake is performed with the patient’s medication. These mistakes are composed of:
- Allergies surfacing from a medication that was given to the patient
- Incorrectly suggested dose amount
- Dangerous consequences coming from a combination of drugs
- Recommending the wrong medication to the patient
Mistakes During Anesthesia
Death, brain damage, and permanent injuries can come from the slightest error during anesthesia. The following errors can occur:
- Anesthetic drug being provided in excess
- Lack of monitoring of the patient while under the anesthetic drug’s effects
- Improper intubation of the patient
- Not telling the necessary procedures to the patient
Birth Injuries
A joyous occasion should be that of a newborns birth, but sadly, poor decisions are often decided upon and actions that are needed are not taken by medical professionals. Some negligence during birth include:
- Failing to perform C-section
- Signs of danger in infant and mother not being watched out for
- Fetal distress not being properly handled
- Fetal distress signs not being perceived
- Not using delivery assisting tools adequately
Things to Know About Medical Malpractice
- 60% of cases involved a female patient
- Medical malpractice is amongst the top killers, right behind cancer and heart disease
- 19% of cases involved an OBGYN
- Medical malpractice payouts amounted to $3 billion in 2012
- Annually in the United States, medical negligence kills 200,000 people
- 34% of malpractice claims are due to mistakes during surgery
- 17% of cases involved a general surgeon
- Individuals over the age of 65 accounts for 12% of cases
- Only 15% of personal injury lawsuits filed are due to medical malpractice
- 16% of cases involved a primary care physician
- Average age of victims is 38
- 14% of cases were due to hospital treatment mistakes
- 46% of cases are due to a negligence during diagnosis
Questions and the Answers Pertaining to Medical Malpractice
Question: Is a lack of informed consent considered medical malpractice?
Answer: The only way that a lack of informed consent will be deemed medical malpractice is if that inaction led to the injury of a patient. But, yes, all medical professionals must acquire informed consent before proceeding with any treatment or procedure. If a patient finds out that the risks were not informed of them and had they known they would have opted out of the procedure, they can file a litigation for medical malpractice if they became injured.
Question: Why is medical malpractice happening?
Answer: Why medical malpractice happens occurs for a number of different reasons. Some sources that the firm has discovered includes performing job duties while under the influence, lack of sleep, failure to communicate with staff members, inexperience, and lack of training.
Question: Who is more prone to a medical negligence?
Answer: A medical malpractice in West Palm Beach can occur to any individual that comes into contact with a medical professional within a facility.
Question: What is needed for a medical malpractice litigation?
Answer: A medical malpractice litigation will require many fundamentals. Some of those elements include certification of merit, notice of intent, causation, and evidence of medical negligence.
Attorneys Representing West Palm Beach Victims of Medical Negligence
West Palm Beach medical negligence lawyers are shocked and devastated at the many cases of patients who have experienced medical malpractice. The results of a medical negligence are never positive ones. Every aspect pertaining to a clients case will be handled with the well-verses team of West Palm Beach professional attorneys for medical negligence at Percy Martinez Law Firm because the consequences of a malpractice will forever remain with the victims. They do not let one detail slip them by because every little bit of information is vital for the case. With one of the firm’s malpractice lawyers, the client does not have to worry about anything. They will manage everything. Consult with them today.
West Palm Beach
Email: percy@percymartinezlaw.com