If a medical professional’s negligence has harmed you, Munley Law’s experienced medical malpractice lawyers in Scranton are ready to fight for your rights. With decades of success representing injured patients throughout Pennsylvania, our award-winning legal team understands the devastating impact that medical errors can have on your health, finances, and quality of life.
Our dedicated legal team understands the complex nature of medical malpractice cases. We work closely with medical experts to thoroughly investigate your case, determine liability, and pursue the maximum compensation you deserve for your injuries, pain and suffering, lost wages, and medical expenses.
Don’t face this difficult situation alone. Contact Munley Law today for a free consultation with a skilled Scranton personal injury attorney who will guide you through every step of the legal process with compassion and expertise.
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What a Scranton Medical Malpractice Lawyer Can Do for You
Studies suggest that one in three medical providers will be sued for medical malpractice at some point in their careers. We often think that these cases involve complex scenarios, but the reality is that they can be as simple as incorrect prescription dosage or a bad diagnosis. While this may seem unsettling for medical professionals, as a patient, it’s even more concerning knowing that these avoidable mistakes happen with an alarming frequency. If you find yourself a victim of inadequate medical care, a Scranton medical malpractice attorney from Munley Law can help.
Our experienced attorneys understand the complexities of healthcare professional negligence and the emotional and financial strain it can have on a family. We will review your claim during an initial consultation to determine what went wrong and develop a plan. We will begin the investigation phase if you choose us to represent you. We will gather evidence, including meeting with medical professionals who can pinpoint where the standard of care was not followed.
We will also calculate the value of your claim to ensure we seek the compensation you need. Our medical malpractice lawyers are skilled negotiators and litigators, so we’ll handle the discussions with the insurance companies to settle. And, if we come to a stalemate, we’ll pursue legal action against the negligent medical professionals. Most claims are settled out of court, but if we have to, we’ll stand by your side during the trial to protect your rights.
The legal process can be complicated, and when your health is on the line, the last thing you want to do is handle endless phone calls with the insurance company. Let us take on the negligent healthcare professionals while you focus on the most essential thing: your health. For a no-obligation, free consultation, call the Scranton medical malpractice lawyers of Munley Law.
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Common Signs of Medical Malpractice in Scranton, PA
Determining if medical malpractice has occurred can be a challenge. Unfortunately, one of the most evident signs a doctor or medical provider was negligent is when there is an unexpected loss of life or additional harm done to a patient aftercare. But there are other indicators that medical negligence is occurring. Signs you have a medical malpractice claim include:
- Your treatment didn’t work. If you have undergone all of the treatment your doctor has prescribed and it doesn’t work, it may be a sign that your doctor misdiagnosed you or has given you the wrong medication.
- Too aggressive or inadequate treatment. Some conditions call for aggressive treatment, but you may have a claim if you seem to be undergoing unnecessary medical procedures. On the other side, if your treatment does not seem to match the severity of your condition, your doctor may not be doing enough in your care.
- Your doctor hasn’t ordered the necessary tests. While basic labs can tell us a lot, sometimes additional testing is needed to diagnose a patient. If your doctor fails to order the correct tests and your condition worsens, you may have a malpractice claim.
- You got a second and third opinion, and your first doctor was wrong. Patients often get second opinions when a treatment is severe. But when you get a second and a third opinion, and both say the initial diagnosis was wrong, this can be a sign of misdiagnosis.
- There was no follow-up care. You likely don’t need a follow-up with your physician after having a cold. But if you suffered a catastrophic injury or a life-changing diagnosis, there should always be follow-up care to determine if the treatment worked or if you are healing. Lack of follow-up care can be a sign of medical negligence.
- Lack of informed consent. Medical professionals should tell you all the risks, side effects, and potential complications from a medication or medical procedure so you can decide if the result is worth the risks. If a doctor fails to do so and complications arise, you may have a suit, especially if you never would have agreed to treatment had you known.
- Feeling uneasy with your medical team. You shouldn’t be afraid to meet with your doctor. But if appointments make you feel uncomfortable and unheard, this can be a sign that your doctor is not providing you with the care you need.
Knowing what medical malpractice is can be a challenge. But the medical malpractice attorneys at Munley Law can help.
Common Types of Medical Malpractice in Scranton, PA
Medical malpractice occurs when a patient’s healthcare team member deviates from the accepted standard of care, causing the patient to suffer harm. Though often used interchangeably, medical negligence must cause a patient to suffer harm to constitute medical malpractice.
Common examples of Scranton medical malpractice lawsuits include the following.
Failure to Diagnose, Misdiagnosis, or a Delay in Diagnoses
Diagnostic errors are a common claim for medical malpractice. Failure to diagnose occurs when a doctor or other care provider does not make a diagnosis of a patient’s condition.
Misdiagnosis occurs when a doctor does not make the proper diagnosis, resulting in a patient getting the wrong treatment or no treatment at all.
Lastly, a delay in diagnosis occurs when a physician does not diagnose the patient, but the delay may cause treatment to be less effective or not work at all.
Errors in diagnosis often occur in cases of infections and heart-related illnesses.
Birth Injuries
The birth of a child should be a joyous occasion. But when an adverse action during birth causes your newborn to suffer injury, there must be consequences. Common birth injuries caused by medical malpractice include:
- Brain injuries
- Cephalohematoma
- Spinal cord injuries
- Nerve damage
- Paralysis
- Broken bones
While some complications may result from birth defects that could not have been avoided, if the direct actions or inactions of a medical provider caused your child to suffer a long-term disability, you need to call a birth injury lawyer in Scranton today.
Surgical Errors
If an error during surgery caused you to suffer injuries, you may have a medical malpractice case. Medical negligence that results in surgical injuries includes:
- Operating on the wrong body part
- Leaving something inside the patient, like a sponge, medical instrument, or device
- Post-op infection
- Lack of monitoring either during or after the surgery
Surgical mistakes can cost more than extensive medical bills; they can cause patients to lose their lives.
You don’t pay a fee unless we win your case.
Hospital Negligence
Being admitted to the hospital or visiting the emergency room can be stressful. However, mistakes will likely occur when doctors, nurses, and surgeons rush around to move patients in and out. Hospital negligence occurs when your medical treatment falls below the standard of care, resulting in harm.
Typically, compensation for a hospital negligence case in Scranton is in the hands of the hospital or care facility named in the complaint. Unfortunately, these cases can be complicated as there are so many care team members that it can be challenging to determine who made the wrong call. With this, the hospital’s insurance company will try to assign as little blame as possible so they aren’t stuck paying your medical expenses.
If you suffered an injury at one of the following hospitals in the Scranton area, we could help:
- Moses Taylor Hospital
- Regional Hospital of Scranton
- Geisinger Community Medical Center
- St. Joseph’s Center
- Allied Health Care
- Lehigh Valley Hospital-Dickson City
Anesthesia Errors
While medication errors can occur at the hands of several medical professionals, anesthesiologists are at the forefront of claims when anesthesia mistakes occur.
Common anesthesia mistakes include:
- Anesthesia procedure mistakes in dosing
- Improper intubation
- Drug interactions
- Inadequate monitoring
- Allergic reactions
- Prolonged sedation
- Not enough sedation
Anesthesia errors can result in serious injury and even death.
Nursing Home Neglect
When our elderly and/or disabled loved ones live in a nursing home facility, we hope that they receive the best care while also preserving their dignity. Unfortunately, nursing home neglect is a common occurrence in Scranton, leading to injury, mental anguish, and even death.
Nursing home abuse that constitutes medical malpractice includes:
- Abandonment
- Medical neglect (medication errors, infections, etc.)
- Lack of hygiene
- Malnutrition and dehydration
- Emotional abuse
There are a number of abusive parties who may be in a nursing home facility. Nurses, doctors, therapists, and even other patients can cause harm to a resident, resulting in a medical malpractice lawsuit.
Our Scranton medical malpractice attorneys are here to help.
Damages in a Medical Malpractice Claim in Scranton, PA
Injury victims in Scranton medical malpractice cases are entitled to two primary forms of compensation: economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages cover tangible financial losses resulting from medical negligence, including:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Lost wages and income
- Diminished earning capacity
- Rehabilitation costs
- Medical equipment and home modifications
- Funeral and burial costs (in fatal cases)
Non-economic damages address the intangible, more subjective losses, such as:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium (impact on spousal relationship)
- Loss of society and companionship
- Permanent disability or disfigurement
- Reduced quality of life
In cases involving gross negligence or intentional misconduct, the courts may award punitive damages to punish healthcare professionals and deter similar behavior in the future. These damages go beyond compensation and serve as a deterrent against egregious medical malpractice.
Is There a Cap on Medical Malpractice in PA?
Pennsylvania does not cap medical malpractice claims, allowing victims to recover the full value of their financial losses. This also includes non-economic losses such as pain and suffering, and mental anguish.
While there is no standard award for medical malpractice cases, victims can recover hundreds of thousands of dollars in compensation for their injuries and related losses. With legal representation from Munley Law, you are more likely to secure maximum compensation for your case.
Proving a Scranton Medical Malpractice Claim
To prove your medical malpractice injuries, you must establish that a doctor-patient relationship existed. Once you have proven this with medical records, treatment documentation, etc., you and your personal injury attorneys can establish negligence.
To prove negligence, you must show that:
- Medical personnel owe you a duty of care.
- There was a breach of the reasonable standard of care.
- The breach caused injuries.
- The injuries resulted in damage.
While this may seem simple, there can be arguments that the standards of care were followed, but unexpected complications arose. You need a team with legal experience to guide you through a personal injury claim.
We know medical mistakes happen at no one’s fault, but something has to be done when substandard care and preventable errors occur.
Our malpractice attorneys’ decades of experience help medical negligence victims secure fair compensation for their injuries. This can be a difficult time for you and your family, which is why we take on the negligent healthcare professionals on your behalf.
Is There a Difference Between Medical Malpractice and a Medical Error?
A medical error can constitute medical malpractice, but that is not always the case. A medical error is not malpractice
unless the medical provider has not acted within the reasonable standard of care we have come to expect.
For example, a doctor may prescribe medication for a patient’s illness. As a result, the patient suffers unexpected complications. This may seem like a malpractice case, but the doctor-prescribed medication is commonly used for that illness. So, in this instance, the doctor acted within the standard of care, and no malpractice occurred.
Medical errors can be catastrophic and even fatal, but that does not mean the doctor has acted negligently. A Scranton medical malpractice law firm can help you during this complex process to determine if the medical error was a result of negligence.
What Should I Do If I Suspect Medical Malpractice?
If you suspect you are a victim of medical malpractice, you need to find new medical care. Once you feel safe in your care, you should get copies of all medical records before the provider team can alter any documents.
Then, call the experienced medical malpractice attorneys of Munley Law.
How Long Does a Scranton Medical Malpractice Lawyer Have to File a Lawsuit?
In Scranton, the statute of limitations for filing medical malpractice claims is two years from the suspected malpractice. However, there are exceptions for cases involving minors or if the harm was not discovered immediately.
An experienced personal injury law firm in Scranton can guide you through the filing deadlines to ensure you get just compensation.
If you or a loved one was a victim of medical negligence, the experienced Scranton medical malpractice lawyers of Munley Law are here to help. Call today for a no-obligation, free consultation.
