Medical Malpractice Lawyer Cecil County, MD

When we go to the doctor, we are under the reasonable assumption that we are going to be taken care of. Rarely do we imagine a doctor or other medical professional making a crucial mistake, but it can and does happen. If you suspect that a doctor committed an error or oversight which led to your worsened condition, then contact our Cecil County medical malpractice lawyer right away for a consultation. Many people aren’t sure if their situation constitutes medical malpractice. Once we learn more about what happened, we can advise further. Sometimes what you need is a legal professional to provide clarity and next steps if legal action is warranted. 

Signs Of Medical Negligence

There are many ways that a doctor may commit medical negligence, such as absence of informed consent, persistent symptoms, delayed diagnosis, unusual symptoms after surgery, not getting expected results from treatment, prescription medication mistakes, understaffed facility, and contradicting opinions between medical professionals. By law, doctors have to provide informed consent. This means that patients receive full disclosure of the procedure and the potential risks involved so they can make a decision that is best for themselves. Doctors who diagnose a patient in a delayed way may have caused their condition to worsen unnecessarily. Unusual symptoms like swelling, bleeding, or bruising could mean a procedure was not performed correctly. When patients undergo treatment, they anticipate their condition improving. However, this may not be the case. You may have noticed your condition has persisted or even exacerbated. The reason could be that your doctor did not give you below standard care or suggested the wrong treatment plan. Your doctor could have prescribed you the wrong medication type and/or dosage, or failed to observe harmful interaction with medication you were already taking. If you notice the facility lacks enough staff to attend to all the patients in a timely manner, share this with our knowledgeable medical malpractice attorney during your consultation. We may suggest getting a second opinion from another doctor about your condition to see if there are vast differences between their verdicts. A big discrepancy could point to the first doctor making incorrect conclusions. Ultimately, if you feel as though your doctor made a mistake and your health was adversely affected because of it, it is worth speaking with a lawyer about a potential case. 

Parker, Pallet, Slezak & Russell, LLC

Realizing that your doctor or another medical professional made a grave error in regards to your care can stir up fears about what is to come. You may have already suffered because of the mistake. If the information provided here resonates with you in some way, then we strongly advise speaking with our Maryland medical malpractice attorney about your case. You could be owed substantial compensation for all you have been through. We are a team of experienced lawyers who are ready to come to your aid. Please do not hesitate to contact us at Parker, Pallet, Slezak & Russell, LLC as soon as possible to have us evaluate your situation. 

Common Types Of Medical Malpractice

A Cecil County medical malpractice lawyer knows that malpractice claims involve complex issues encompassing various negligence and errors. The following are the four most common types of malpractice that the lawyers at Parker, Pallet, Slezak & Russell, LLC have successfully litigated.

Diagnostic Errors

Diagnostic errors occur when a healthcare provider fails to diagnose a medical condition correctly or delays the diagnosis, leading to inappropriate or delayed treatment. This type of malpractice is prevalent and can have serious consequences for patients. Examples include misinterpreting test results, failing to order necessary tests, or overlooking symptoms that should have prompted further investigation.

Surgical Errors

Surgical errors encompass a wide range of mistakes that occur during surgical procedures. These can include operating on the wrong body part, performing the wrong procedure, or leaving surgical instruments or other foreign objects inside the patient’s body. Surgeons and operating room staff must adhere to strict protocols to prevent these errors, which can have severe implications for the patient’s health and recovery.

Medication Errors

Medication errors involve mistakes in prescribing, dispensing, or administering medications. This type of malpractice can occur at various stages, from the initial prescription by a doctor to the administration of the medication by a nurse or pharmacist. Examples include prescribing the wrong medication, incorrect dosages, drug interactions, or administering medication via the wrong route.

Failure To Provide Informed Consent

Informed consent is a crucial ethical and legal concept in healthcare. It ensures that patients understand the risks, benefits, and alternatives of a proposed treatment or procedure before giving their consent. Failure to obtain informed consent or adequately inform patients can constitute malpractice, particularly if the patient suffers harm not disclosed or understood before consenting to treatment.

Legal Recourse

Each type of malpractice involves breaches of professional standards and can lead to serious harm, long-term consequences, and legal consequences for healthcare providers. Patients who believe they have been harmed due to medical malpractice may pursue legal action to seek compensation for damages.

Healthcare providers and institutions have a duty to uphold high standards of care and patient safety to prevent these types of malpractice. This includes ongoing education, protocol adherence, clear communication with patients, and accurate medical records. By addressing these common types of malpractice, healthcare systems can strive to improve patient outcomes and reduce the occurrence of medical errors.

Damages Available

In a malpractice claim, damages are financial compensation awarded to the injured party to address the harm suffered due to the professional’s negligence. The types of damages your Cecil County medical malpractice lawyer can pursue on your behalf include:

• Economic Damages: These cover tangible losses such as medical expenses for treating the injury, lost wages or income due to inability to work, and ongoing care or rehabilitation costs. Economic damages are meant to reimburse the plaintiff for quantifiable financial losses.
• Non-Economic Damages: These address intangible losses, such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and diminished quality of life. Non-economic damages are more subjective and aim to compensate for the physical and emotional impact of the injury.
• Punitive Damages: In extreme negligence or recklessness cases, punitive damages may be awarded. These are intended to punish the defendant for their egregious behavior and deter similar conduct in the future. Unlike economic and non-economic damages, punitive damages are not directly related to the plaintiff’s losses but focus on the defendant’s conduct.

Call Our Personal Injury Law Firm Today

If you have been injured due to the negligence of a medical professional or facility, call Parker, Pallet, Slezak & Russell, LLC to schedule a free and confidential consultation with a dedicated Cecil County medical malpractice lawyer and find out what legal recourse you may have.