No one is perfect, but certain mistakes made by doctors are inexcusable and provide the basis for a lawsuit. Healthcare professionals are expected to provide care that is in accordance with accepted medical standards. When doctors, nurses, or other providers deviate from accepted approaches or procedures and injuries to the patient result, victims may have a legal right to recover compensation for their medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
If you suspect that you or a member of your family has been the victim of medical negligence, contact the Gaithersburg, Maryland law offices of Sussman & Simcox to schedule your free consultation. We can help you evaluate your options and determine the best way to move forward.
Defining Medical Malpractice
Simply experiencing a poor outcome after receiving medical care does not mean that you’ve been the victim of malpractice. Despite the recent advances in medical science, it’s impossible to guarantee that a specific treatment will be 100% successful.
Medical malpractice occurs when a doctor, hospital, or other healthcare professional causes an injury to a patient through a negligent act or omission. When that happens, these professionals can be held liable in the eyes of the law.
Medical negligence can be the result of errors in treatment, diagnosis, aftercare, or health management. There must be proof that the negligence caused the injury, which is why having an experienced attorney is crucial.
In order for a malpractice claim to be filed, you must be able to prove all of the following:
- A doctor-patient relationship existed.
- The professional was negligent under-recognized industry standards.
- The professional’s negligence caused the injury in question.
- The injury led to specific damages.
Negligence in the Health Care Setting
Examples of medical negligence that can lead to serious injury include:
- Birth injury claims
- Pharmacy errors
- Failure to diagnose claims
- Emergency room errors, failure to treat
- Surgical errors
- Nursing malpractice
- Anesthesia errors
- Hospital negligence
- Diagnostic/X-Ray errors
- Lack of informed consent claims
Let Us Help Make Things Right
Maryland also imposes certain limits on the amount of damages that the victim can recover, no matter how severe the injury.
Medical malpractice claims must be investigated promptly to ensure filing within the statute of limitations. A medical malpractice attorney will walk you through the process of a malpractice lawsuit or settlement.
If you’ve been a victim of medical malpractice or negligence, you don’t have to stand alone. Attorneys Karen Sussman and Howard Simcox would be happy to meet with you to provide you with a free legal consultation.
Have You Been a Victim of Medical Malpractice?
If you've been injured in a medical malpractice case, you need to speak with an experienced medical malpractice attorney as soon as possible. Please contact us online or call our Gaithersburg office directly at 301.840.0404 to schedule your free consultation.