What is Medical Malpractice?
Medical Malpractice is, “bad, wrong, or injudicious treatment of a patient, professionally and in respect to the particular disease or injury, resulting. in injury, unnecessary suffering, or death to the patient, and proceeding from ignorance, carelessness, want of proper professional skill, disregard of established rules or principles, neglect, or a malicious or criminal intent .” (Black’s Law Dictionary 1111. 4th Ed. Rev. 1968). Like general malpractice, it refers to negligence in a professional setting. However, it is limited to healthcare providers, such as a doctor or hospital.
Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare provider deviates from the applicable standard of care, intentionally or unintentionally, and harms a patient. Cases such as Napier v. Greenzweig show that medical malpractice can be as blatant as ignoring understood rules, or it can be a mistake like a severe surgical error or a misdiagnosis. Medical malpractice is considered to be a serious issue, and healthcare providers found liable for malpractice often pay extensive damages. Occasionally, a doctor may lose their license to practice medicine if malpractice is severe enough or repeated.
Fully understanding cases of medical malpractice often involves some level of medical knowledge. Because of this, it is difficult to prove medical malpractice in court, and expert witnesses are typically needed to testify about a healthcare provider’s negligence.
More information about Medical Malpractice
Expert Witnesses in Medical Malpractice Cases
What Does an Expert Witness Do in a Medical Malpractice Case?
While each medical injury is different, all medical malpractice lawsuits require expert witnesses. Experienced medical malpractice lawyers, like our award-winning team at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, know when and how to use a good expert witness. If you are planning on filing a claim in a Pennsylvania court, then make sure you understand these points about experts.
Why Do I Need an Expert Witness in My Medical Malpractice Claim?
There are several reasons why medical malpractice plaintiffs need expert witnesses.
The Certificate of Merit
First, in Pennsylvania, all med mal plaintiffs must file a “Certificate of Merit.” The purpose of this document is to protect doctors and other medical practitioners from frivolous lawsuits. […]
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Heart Attack Misdiagnosis & Malpractice Lawyers
Was your loved one’s heart attack misdiagnosed?
It’s incredibly important you receive proper medical care urgently if you are experiencing signs of a heart attack. In some cases, symptoms can be mistaken by doctors for something less serious, which can lead to a heart attack misdiagnosis, resulting in pain and suffering, if not worse. Medical misdiagnoses like this can occur for many reasons, including when a hospital is understaffed, undertrained, or simply not following protocol to understand the scope of the patient’s symptoms.
If you or someone you love has experienced a heart attack misdiagnosis, you may be owed compensation for physical injuries, medical bills, and other losses. Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys has decades of experience with medical malpractice cases, and we will fight to get you the justice you deserve.
Common heart attack symptoms
We’re often told to never underestimate any symptoms that could be related to a heart attack, […]
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Bethlehem Medical Malpractice Lawyer
If you need a Bethlehem medical malpractice lawyer to win justice for you, you need Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys
Get justice, get results, and get maximum compensation for your injuries/illness caused by medical error in the Lehigh Valley
According to the Medical Malpractice Center (MMC), medical errors are the third leading cause of death in the United States. Unfortunately, preventable mistakes cause the deaths of 195,000 patients every year. Likewise, the MMC reports that 100,000 people die each year because of doctors’ failures to properly diagnose their illnesses. In fact, from 1986 until 2010, hospitals, healthcare companies, and doctors paid $38.8 billion to medical malpractice victims. If your doctor, nurse, or healthcare professional messed up your medical care, take action. Above all, you deserve justice and a Bethlehem medical malpractice lawyer who will fight for maximum compensation for your injuries. […]
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How long does it take to resolve a personal injury case?
How Long Does It Take to Resolve a Personal Injury Claim?
One of the most common questions that our clients ask is: how long it will take to settle my personal injury case? Unfortunately, no lawyer can answer that question for certain because every case is different and it can take time to reach the best outcome possible (if you encounter a lawyer who claims to be able to resolve your case in a fixed time period, that may be a red flag). And of course, if the insurance company refuses to offer an acceptable settlement, your case may go to trial which will extend the timeline a bit further.
To help you understand what to expect in a personal injury case, our experienced personal injury litigation team at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys explain the timeline of a typical case and the factors that can impact your recovery. […]
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Frequently Asked Questions About Sepsis
Sepsis FAQ: I Was Diagnosed with Sepsis–Can I Sue the Hospital?
What is sepsis and is it serious?
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), sepsis is the body’s extreme inflammatory response to an infection that occurs when harmful germs, bacteria, and toxins enter the blood, skin, lungs, urinary tract, or other tissue and cause an infection. If that infection is not treated, it can spread and cause sepsis.
The CDC classifies sepsis as a life-threatening medical emergency, sometimes resulting in the need for amputation, organ failure, and death.
Sepsis has a remarkably high mortality rate; about 50% of the 1.5 million people who contract it go into septic shock.
What Causes Sepsis?
Any infection can cause sepsis, but the most common types of infections that eventually lead to sepsis are:
- Pneumonia and Other Lung Infections
- Urinary Tract Infections
- Abdominal Infections
- Bloodstream Infections
- Kidney Infections
- Skin Infections
According to the CDC, […]
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