If you or a loved one has been injured while under the care of a physician, you are probably hurt, confused, and angry. After all, doctors are supposed to heal you, and additional harm is unacceptable.
We understand that this is a painful and emotional time for you. You likely have lots of questions, and you may be looking for fair compensation and punishment. You might be wondering if you should sue for medical malpractice.
Medical malpractice can result in serious and catastrophic injuries, or in some cases, death. You may have a case if any of the following health care professional mistakes pertain to you:
- Broken bones from being dropped by a health care professional
- Waiting too long in the ER, resulting in permanent damage
- Failure to properly diagnose a patient
- Experimenting with drugs not yet approved
- Prescribing or administering the wrong drugs
- Errors in administering anesthesia
- Surgical mistakes
- Wrongful death
In general, any negligence on the part of the health care professional that results in ongoing medical issues for the patient is a basis for a lawsuit. For example, breast cancer that is not caught by a doctor despite the patient’s concern may be a case. Similarly, a doctor’s negligence during the birthing process could result in the child getting cerebral palsy or brain damage.
To talk to an experienced Virginia medical malpractice attorney today, call the law offices of Tronfeld West & Durrett at 1-800-321-6741. Our lawyers are right in your neighborhood, with offices in Richmond, Petersburg and Chesterfield. We will help determine if your case is worth pursuing.
Negligence, Lack of Informed Consent, and Breach of Contract
There are three types of malpractice lawsuits:
- Negligence – This refers to general neglect on the part of the health care professional (usually the patient’s doctor) that results in long-term or permanent damage to the patient. To have a successful case, you must prove that there is a set standard of medical care and that your doctor did not meet this standard.
- Lack of informed consent – This refers to the doctor’s responsibility to inform the patient of all risks associated with a treatment or surgery. In some cases, if the patient was not properly informed of all risks, you may be able to successfully pursue a case against the doctor for side effects that you did not know were possible.
Steps You Should Take
Medical malpractice suits are costly, complex and time-consuming. Those in the medical profession will rarely admit fault, so if you are considering suing, you need an experienced malpractice lawyer who can help you get the testimony you need to win your case.
To successfully pursue a medical malpractice case, you must prove the following:
That a healthcare professional (such as a doctor) was responsible for the patient’s care
That the responsible person failed to properly execute his or her duties based on a set standard of medical care
That this failure to execute said duties (negligence) caused the patient’s injury
Determining that the physician failed in his duties often requires knowledge of medical standards and expert testimony from another doctor who can help prove your case. Because of the time and money required to pursue a medical malpractice lawsuit, we do not recommend suing for minor injuries.
However, if you feel you or a loved one has a legitimate malpractice case, call a medical malpractice lawyer at Tronfeld West & Durrett at 1-800-321-6741 for a free case evaluation. We will take a look at your case and help you determine if it is worth pursuing. Feel assured knowing that when we take a case, we fight aggressively to the end and do our best to get you the highest compensation possible.
Tronfeld West & Durrett are experienced Virginia medical malpractice attorneys with offices conveniently located in Richmond, Petersburg, and Chesterfield.
