Middletown Medical Malpractice Lawyer

Middletown Medical Malpractice Attorney

Victims of medical malpractice often experience life-altering consequences. This can come in the form of severe injuries, worsening health conditions, and other devastating losses. Anytime a healthcare provider’s negligent actions are linked to physical, emotional, or financial damage experienced by a patient, it’s enough grounds to open an investigation of medical practice. If this has happened to you, a Middletown medical malpractice lawyer can help.

At Loughlin FitzGerald, P.C., we have proudly assisted countless clients who were once in these exact shoes. Our team of attorneys understands what makes medical malpractice cases complicated, from the evidence required to prove that negligence occurred to dealing with resistant insurance companies. At the end of the day, regardless of how much you have suffered, we are prepared to pursue your case to the full extent of the law.

What Are Some Common Medical Malpractice Scenarios?

Healthcare professionals are expected to care for patients, protecting their safety and well-being. Despite being so well-trained, however, they can make errors. When it happens, victims of medical malpractice have the right to pursue compensation. Some of the most common reasons why medical malpractice happens include:

• Misdiagnosis or Delayed Diagnosis: One of the more frequent forms of medical malpractice is misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis. This happens anytime a doctor fails to identify a condition correctly or takes too long to make an accurate diagnosis. When this happens, it can put a patient in even greater danger. For example, if a patient who was showing clear early signs of cancer was misdiagnosed with a less severe condition, the misdiagnosis could cause even greater harm, leaving the cancer untreated.
• Surgical Errors: There are many different inherent risks that come with surgeries. However, all complications that result from surgery should be investigated to see if there is any evidence that suggests it was an act of medical malpractice. For example, a surgeon may accidentally sever a nerve during an operation and cause permanent damage. This can happen due to miscommunication among surgical teams, inadequate preparation, or fatigue. All of this may qualify as malpractice.
• Medication Errors: Another common malpractice scenario is when a healthcare professional makes an error related to a patient’s medication. This can happen when a physician prescribes the wrong medication, administers the wrong dose, or does not check to see if the drug would interact poorly with other medicines the patient is already taking. For example, if a doctor prescribes a medication that a patient is allergic to or a pharmacist fills a prescription incorrectly, that could constitute malpractice.
• Birth Injuries: Cases of medical malpractice during childbirth can result in serious injuries to the mother and new baby. This can happen if the doctor fails to monitor fetal distress, misuses certain instruments during delivery, or there are delays in performing a necessary C-section. Misses like these can cause harm to the mother and baby, leaving them with permanent damage to deal with for the rest of their lives.
• Anesthesia Errors: To successfully administer anesthesia, precision, and focus are required to ensure the patient is safely prepared for their operation. Sometimes, an anesthesiologist engages in negligent behavior that can put the patient at risk. For example, they could administer too much or too little anesthesia, fail to monitor their patient’s vital signs or forget to check a patient’s medical history to see if there are any potential risks they should be aware of.
• Hospital-Acquired Infections: With so many infected patients across a hospital’s facilities, it’s important for staff to follow safety protocols to prevent germs from spreading. This is because hospital-acquired infections can result from staff ignoring protocol, such as leaving rooms unsanitary, not sterilizing equipment properly, or failing to maintain good hygiene. When a patient becomes infected, it can prolong their recovery time or, in more serious cases, be life-threatening.

FAQs

Q: Is It Worth Suing for Medical Malpractice?

A: Whether or not it’s worth filing a claim for medical malpractice will depend on how much you have suffered and whether that suffering can be linked to someone’s negligence. If your attorney agrees you have grounds for a case, securing a malpractice claim can help cover your medical bills, lost wages, and any necessary ongoing treatment. While the legal process can take longer than you prefer, the potential compensation and accountability can make the effort worthwhile.

Q: How Much Does a Malpractice Lawyer Cost?

A: Most medical malpractice attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. This means that they would only be paid if you successfully secure compensation in your claim, receiving a certain predetermined percentage of the final settlement amount. Be sure to ask our Middletown personal injury attorney how their fees are structured and what costs they anticipate to ensure you can afford their representation.

Q: What Are the Four Things That Must Be Proven to Win a Medical Malpractice Suit?

A: The four essential elements to satisfy in a medical malpractice lawsuit include duty of care, breach of duty, causation, and damages. First, you need to establish that the healthcare provider owed you a duty of care. After that, you must show the provider breached that duty by making an error. Causation requires showing how that breach directly caused the injuries in question. Finally, you must tabulate the damages to request a compensation figure.

Q: What Is the Hardest Element to Prove in a Medical Malpractice Case?

A: One of the hardest elements to prove in a medical malpractice case is causation. This is because a plaintiff is required to demonstrate how that healthcare provider’s negligence is directly linked to their injuries or worsened their overall condition. For example, if a patient who had a pre-existing condition experienced complications, the defense could try to argue that the outcome would have been the same regardless of the physician’s negligent actions.

Contact Loughlin FitzGerald, P.C. Today

If you have recently experienced a medical injury in Middletown, Connecticut, that you believe could qualify as an act of malpractice, contact our firm today. We can learn more about what happened and provide our professional recommendation on what your next steps should be to seek justice and earn compensation.