| |
»
What is medical malpractice?
»
How can I find out if I have a case?
»
Who can be
sued under medical malpractice laws?
»
What does
"established customary standard of care" mean?
»
My doctor made a mistake and admitted it. Do
I have a malpractice case?
»
What kind of mistakes can result in medical
malpractice?
»
How do I
gather evidence for this type of medical malpractice case?
»
What is a birth injury?
»
What are the most common types of birth
injury?
»
What is cerebral palsy?
»
What are the side effects of cerebral
palsy?
»
What are some common errors that may occur in Emergency Rooms?
»
What are some conditions that may be misdiagnosed or incorrectly treated in the
Emergency Room?
»
What should
you be aware of when visiting an Emergency Room?
What is medical malpractice?
Although the legal definition may vary slightly from state to state, as a
general rule medical malpractice (also known as medical negligence) means that a
health care provider caused injury or death to a patient by failing to act
within the applicable standard of care. In other words, a physician or other
health care provider commits medical malpractice and is negligent when he or she
fails to act reasonably under the circumstances and the unreasonable conduct
causes harm.[
BACK TO TOP
]
How can I find out if I have a case?
Talk to an experienced medical malpractice lawyer. Medical malpractice law is a
highly-specialized, very difficult area of law so make sure that you speak with
an attorney who has prior experience in the medical malpractice field. Tell the
attorney exactly what happened to you, from the first time you visited your
doctor through your last contact. What were the circumstances surrounding your
illness or injury? How did your doctor treat it? What did your doctor tell you
about your treatment? Did you follow your doctor's instructions? What happened
to you? Answers to these and other relevant questions become important if you
think your doctor may have committed malpractice.
[
BACK TO TOP ]
Who can be sued under medical malpractice laws?
Any health care professional who is in a position of trust, is licensed and
provides professional medical service to you. This includes doctors, nurse
practitioners, or hospital staff. The
negligent health care provider may not be the doctor, nurse or a member of the
staff. It is possible that the individual is a lab or x-ray technician with
certain qualifications for operating advanced medical equipment or interpreting
results of tests. A facility or company may also be liable for malpractice. Many
times, a hospital, an ambulance company, a pharmacy or a nursing home will be
subject to tort law - even a class action lawsuit.
[
BACK TO TOP ]
What does "established customary
standard of care" mean?
This is the degree of care and skill that the average qualified doctor would
provide to a patient who sought medical care for similar symptoms and
circumstances.
[
BACK TO TOP ]
My doctor made a mistake and admitted
it. Do I have a malpractice case?
A medical malpractice / medical negligence attorney can help you to determine if
your case has merit. Many mistakes are simply that, but if your doctor's mistake
was the result of negligence or failure to meet the expected standard of care,
then the answer may be "Yes". Damages may be recoverable for you under medical
malpractice laws.
Consult with the experienced medical malpractice lawyers of Munley, Munley &
Cartwright for FREE. Munley, Munley & Cartwright's medical malpractice lawyers
will evaluate your case thoroughly and explore all potential sources of
recovery. We will help you decide your best course of action and we will
develop the best legal strategy for demonstrating your claim.
Contact us now for a free case evaluation. 1-800-318-LAW1
or use our Online Case Evaluation Form.
[
BACK TO TOP ]
What kind of mistakes can result in
medical malpractice?
Many different mistakes may constitute medical malpractice including:
[
BACK TO TOP ]
How do
I gather evidence for this type of medical malpractice case?
In most cases, you will not be able to gather the evidence necessary to document
negligence in a birth injury case. Your attorney will actually have access to
more medical records than you will, as ironic as they may seem. Munley, Munley &
Cartwright lawyers are experienced in this type of litigation and will know what
you need for your case.
We will help you decide your best course of action and we will develop the
best legal strategy for demonstrating your claim.
Contact us now for a free case evaluation. 1-800-318-LAW1
or use our Online Case Evaluation Form.
[
BACK TO TOP ]
What is a birth injury?
A physical injury suffered by a baby during delivery. Birth injuries may be
related to pre-existing maternal or fetal health problems, or related to
negligence by a health care professional such as a doctor or another member of
the professional medical staff. These injuries may cause permanent disabilities
or even death.
[
BACK TO TOP ]
What are the most common types of
birth injury?
- Cerebral palsy
- Shoulder dystocia
- Erb's palsy/brachial plexus injuries
- Brain injury caused by improper use of vacuum
extractors
- Untreated jaundice
[
BACK TO TOP ]
What is
cerebral palsy?
Cerebral palsy is a medical condition caused by a permanent brain injury that
occurs before, during, or shortly after birth. The effect of cerebral palsy is
characterized by lack of muscle control and body movement. The cerebral palsy
diagnosis is usually made shortly after birth, but may show up later in
childhood.
[
BACK TO TOP ]
What are the side effects of
cerebral palsy?
Side effects of cerebral palsy include seizures, spasms, visual problems,
hearing problems, hyperactivity disorder, speech problems, and learning
problems. Approximately half of all people with cerebral palsy suffer from
seizures. Seizures occur when there is abnormal brain activity (the brain
attempts to send abnormal messages very close together). Seizures affect people
in different ways - some people may stop moving and stare, others may fall down.
Some can cause a person to fall and shake violently. They are generally not
dangerous and will only last a few minutes.
What are some common errors that may occur in Emergency Rooms?
Mistakes commonly made in an
Emergency Room may include:
- Medication Errors
- Prescription Errors
- Bacterial Infections
- Birth Injury
- Omissions Error
- Failure to Diagnose or Improper Diagnosis
- Negligence
- Unnecessary Surgical Procedures
[
BACK TO TOP ]
What are some conditions that may be misdiagnosed or incorrectly treated in the
Emergency Room?
Heart attacks, Strokes and Aneurysms are among the most common misdiagnosed
conditions in emergency rooms. Some problems,
such as heart attacks, can be mistaken
for indigestion, and long term problems can be missed as doctors look for
immediate causes. If these problems were caught upon arrival to the ER, some
patients would have a much better prognosis. Misdiagnosing a patient can even
lead to death. Being a victim of an emergency room error can mean that you
have a legal right to compensation or other damages.
[
BACK TO TOP ]
What should
you be aware of when visiting an Emergency Room?
Don't
be afraid to ask questions. The Emergency department can be a confusing place.
When you receive any medication, diagnosis, or treatment, ask what is being
done and why. Before you leave,
get all of your discharge
instructions in writing. Be sure that these include the names of the
physicians that you saw, the diagnosis that was made, follow-up instructions,
and any prescriptions you may require. Because of the high volume of patients
and continual staff shortages, Emergency
Rooms can lead to an environment that is ripe for errors. Some of the errors
may cause minor inconveniences, but others can lead to deadly consequences for
unsuspecting patients.
[
BACK TO TOP ]
| Only an experienced lawyer who knows
Pennsylvania's intricate medical malpractice laws, the court system and
individual rights can effectively prove your physical and/or mental injury
under state laws. Munley, Munley & Cartwright's medical malpractice lawyers
will evaluate your case thoroughly and explore all potential sources of
recovery. We will help you decide your best course of action and we will
develop the best legal strategy for demonstrating your claim. Most cases
are brought before an arbitration panel prior to court. It is always
advisable to be represented by an attorney during arbitration. |
We have offices conveniently located in Stroudsburg, Carbondale, Hamlin,
Hazleton, Scranton, and Wilkes-Barre, PA. We have the benefit of the local
presence within and knowledge of the local legal communities where medical
malpractice matters are litigated. Our firm has built a reputation over 40 years
in the courts within within Lackawana, Monroe, Schuylkill, Wayne, Luzerne,
and Wyoming counties. Our goal is to provide exceptional legal services to
our clients.
If you or a loved one have been harmed by doctor error, misdiagnosis, or other
form of medical negligence, you may have a medical malpractice claim. You could
be eligible to receive compensation for the damages caused to your family. 'The
Family of Lawyers' at Munley, Munley & Cartwright are experienced, and
successful, medical malpractice litigators - we fight to protect the rights of
patients.
Contact us now for a free claim evaluation.
1-800-318-LAW1
|
|
| |
