The truth about Medical Malpractice:
You have a legal right to receive medical care that is free from negligence. By law, healthcare professionals cannot be reckless and must exercise reasonable judgment. With reputations on the line, you can expect to meet a strong pushback when seeking compensation. Remember that YOU are your best advocate. Contact an experienced legal professional to ensure that your needs are taken care of and the proper parties are held responsible!
Statistics show that medical errors happen far more often than one might think. A 2018 Johns Hopkins study found that approximately 250,000 people each year die from medical mistakes. Other studies have placed that number as high as 440,000. In truth, we cannot get a truly accurate number of how many people die from these mistakes each year because of the way that death certificates report human fatalities.
These studies only focus on people who are killed by medical mistakes each year. The number of injuries is likely far higher. Many people have suffered medical injuries that will completely reduce the quality of their lives. While we may never really know how many people around the world are injured each year by medical malpractice, we understand that your injury is everything in world to your and your family. We are committed to fighting for you!
What You Need To Know
Medical negligence (or malpractice) takes place when a healthcare provider makes a serious medical mistake. Although it can take several different forms, all types can result in severe injuries and conditions that can sometimes change a patient’s life forever.
- Poorly performed medical procedures
- Failing to secure the written consent of the patient
- Careless actions or inactions during a medical procedure
- Performing the wrong procedure
- Misdiagnosing or failing to diagnose a patient’s medical condition
- Unsanitary conditions
If you have been injured or suspect there wasn’t something right with a recent procedure or medical treatment, it’s crucial to start documenting your experience right as soon as possible. Here are 3 things to do in the days following any suspected medical error:
- Seek medical attention immediately, if you’re still experiencing symptoms or injuries that you think may have resulted from the suspected medical error. Get a second opinion about your treatment options.
- Document the suspected error. Be detailed in your notes about injuries, symptoms, procedures, their outcomes, and the dates they occurred. Get copies of your medical records.
- Consult an experienced Medical Malpractice attorney to see if you have a case. Tell us more about your case and schedule a free consultation.
The state of Georgia, just like other jurisdictions in the country, has a statute of limitations for medical malpractice cases. Pursuant to Section 9-3-71 of the Georgia Code, there is a set window of time for filing a medical malpractice claim or lawsuit in the state of Georgia. In the majority of medical malpractice cases, a lawsuit must be filed against a negligent doctor within a two-year period, starting on the date when the patient sustained their injury (or on the date when the patient passed away) due to a healthcare provider’s negligent omissions or actions.
In other words, if you fail to file your lawsuit within the set period of time, you will forever waive your claim to monetary compensation in the form of damages.