Medical Malpractice Lawyers in Houston, Texas
Medical malpractice occurs when a doctor, hospital, nurse or other medical professional makes a medical error or diagnosis error that leads to a patient’s injury or death. According to Forbes, in 2012 alone, over $3 billion went to medical malpractice payments to victims and their families. Medical error can leave victims suffering from catastrophic injuries, leave victims suffering from permanent disability, or devastate a family when a loved one passes away due to a medical error. In order to successfully make a medical malpractice claim, you’ll need to show that a doctor, hospital, nurse, or other medical professional violated the standard of care. The idea of the standard of care can be complex to evaluate because it depends on what a similar medical professional would do in a given medical situation. Medical malpractice can take place if a doctor makes a serious surgical error or if a doctor fails to properly diagnose a condition which leads to death or injury. Medical malpractice can also take place if a nurse or medical professional fails to administer the right type of medication or administers too much medication.
The medical malpractice lawyers at Blizzard Greenberg, PLLC in Houston, Texas work closely with victims and families who have suffered injuries as a result of medical errors or misdiagnosis. Our attorneys can review the details of your case, refer your case to appropriate medical experts for evaluation, and help you pursue your medical malpractice claim to the fullest extent of the law. You only have a limited amount of time to pursue a medical malpractice claim. Contact Blizzard Greenberg, PLLC today.
Medical Malpractice Claims: What You Need to Know
According to Forbes, medical malpractice kills approximately 200,000 people every year. However, only a small percentage of these cases will ever be pursued as a medical malpractice personal injury lawsuit. Why? Medical malpractice claims can be complex to litigate. They require the testimony of medical experts, and doctors and hospitals or their insurance companies sometimes vigorously defend themselves in court. In some cases, medical malpractice cases are settled outside of court. A doctor or hospital might admit to making an error and agree to handle a patient’s medical costs and rehabilitation expenses. In some cases, it might be prudent to settle outside of court in this manner, but not in all situations. This is why it is important to always consult with a medical malpractice attorney before you settle. If you or a loved one suffered a catastrophic injury as a result of a doctor, hospital, nurse, or medical provider’s neglect, you have the right to pursue a medical malpractice claim. Catastrophic injuries can result in death or severe and permanent disability to a victim. The person may no longer be able to return to work, or care for loved ones. These types of injuries can impact all aspects of a victim’s life and can be very costly to treat and manage over a person’s lifetime. With these types of medical malpractice injuries, victims and families might want to pursue a medical malpractice claim.
Not all poor medical outcomes are the result of medical malpractice. For example, a doctor might tell a patient about a surgery’s known risks. If a patient suffers a poor outcome where the risks are known and documented, this might not warrant a medical malpractice claim. However, if a doctor performs surgery on the wrong body part, if medical waste is left inside a patient’s body, or if a doctor makes an error while performing surgery that deviates from the standard of care, patients may have the right to pursue a medical malpractice claim.
Have questions about whether you have the right to pursue a medical malpractice lawsuit? Blizzard Greenberg, PLLC is a medical malpractice law firm that helps clients who have suffered injuries due to medical malpractice and neglect. Contact our law firm today to learn more about your options and rights.
Is it Medical Malpractice or Not?
One of the challenges patients and families face after a poor medical outcome is understanding whether the poor outcome is the result of medical malpractice or whether the outcome is simply the result of disease or illness. Not all poor medical outcomes constitute medical malpractice. However, if a doctor misinterpreted test results, failed to properly interpret a scan, and thus misdiagnosed you, and this misdiagnosis led to injury, further illness, or death, you and your family might have the right to pursue a medical malpractice claim. If a doctor made a surgical error or made a mistake while performing another medical procedure, this might also constitute medical malpractice. Improper administration of medication, a mistaken dosage, or other error involving medicine can also constitute medical malpractice. How can you best determine if you suffered medical malpractice?
- Understand the type of treatment or surgery you are receiving and document any known risks associated with the treatment or surgery. If new complications arise, speak to your doctor.
- Understand the type of medication you are receiving and document the dosage amounts you should be given and the regularity of dosage. If the dosage you are being prescribed or administered differs from what your prescription says, speak to your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor.
- Understand your diagnosis, keep records of test results, ask questions and learn more about your medical condition.A patient getting sicker or a surgery not producing the desired result is not always medical malpractice.
A patient who has an untreatable or terminal illness who suffers a poor health outcome won’t always be the victim of medical malpractice. However, if misdiagnosis or delay in treatment led to a patient developing a terminal illness or a treatable condition became untreatable because doctors delayed in providing treatment, a patient may have the right to pursue a medical malpractice claim.
If you still have questions about whether you have suffered as a result of a medical error, you may want to contact a medical malpractice attorney who can review your case. Blizzard Greenberg, PLLC is a medical malpractice law firm in Houston, Texas who works closely with victims and families who have suffered as a result of medical negligence. Contact our firm today for a free case evaluation. We offer caring and compassionate counsel to victims and their families.
