Have you or someone you love been injured because of medical negligence? If so, contact the Atlanta medical malpractice attorneys at The Law Offices of Michael Lawson Neff, P.C.. Attorneys Michael Neff and Dwayne Adams will help you get the settlement you deserve.
Note that medical malpractice claims are not limited to physicians. If you have been injured, you can also sue other healthcare professionals such as nursing homes, surgeons, nurses, dentists, chiropractors, therapists, and psychologists.
Common medical malpractice claims include:
· Misdiagnosis of disease, including failure to diagnose cancer
· Infections
· Traumatic brain injury
· Obstetric (OBGYN) malpractice, including labor and delivery mistakes such as improper use of forceps or failure to perform a c-section when necessary
· Birth injuries
· Cerebral palsy
· Unnecessary surgery
· Surgery mistakes, including anesthesia mistakes and foreign objects left inside the body
· Nursing home neglect
· Abandonment/Failure to attend to patient
· Defective medical devices
· Improper prescription
· Medication errors
· Emergency room mistakes
· Lack of informed consent
· Wrongful death
Medical malpractice cases are complex and difficult, and healthcare providers rarely settle a case without a legal battle. If you’re suing a doctor or healthcare provider for medical malpractice, expect a long fight against a lawyer who specializes in defending medical malpractice claims. That’s why you need an attorney with special expertise in medical malpractice. The Law Offices of Michael Lawson Neff will provide that expertise and guide you through the process of claiming your due compensation.
While the majority of medical malpractice cases are settled out of court, Michael Neff and associates thoroughly prepare to go to trial with every case.
Do I have a medical malpractice case?
To determine if you have a medical malpractice cases, ask yourself these three questions:
1) Did your doctor or healthcare provider owe a duty to you as the patient? Generally, when you go to a doctor who agrees to treat you, then the doctor assumes the duty to treat you with competent care, drawing upon appropriate training and skills.
2) Did your doctor or healthcare provider injure you by providing a level of care that was less than that which could be expected from a reasonably competent doctor in diagnosing and treating the same condition? In the state of Georgia, you must present expert testimony to show that the healthcare provider departed from that standard.
3) Did your doctor’s or healthcare provider’s actions cause harm to you? In order to have a medical malpractice case, there must be a close causal connection between the action by the doctor and the harm to the patient. In some cases, it can be difficult to prove that the doctor caused the harm, and defendants will often claim that something else caused the harm.
With an experienced attorney on your side, you may be able to sue for mental or physical pain and suffering caused by your injury, lost wages, medical expenses, and other economic damages resulting from the injury.
Preparing for Your Medical Malpractice Claim
Before you meet with your lawyer, you’ll need to get your medical records. You’re entitled to copies of your records, and you need to make it clear to your healthcare provider’s staff that you know you’re entitled. Specifically, you should request “each and every page of medical record information available including, but not limited to: Office notes, discharge summaries, history, physical exam, progress notes, operating reports, operating room records, anesthesia sheets, consultation requests and reports, all laboratory and imaging results, memos, letters, insurance forms, bills, and all other written records concerning me in your possession.”
Do not take “no” for an answer, and do not accept mere summaries of records. You’re entitled to your full medical records. You may need to sign for them, and you may be asked to pay a copying charge, but a healthcare provider cannot refuse to release your records. If they do refuse to release your records, ask for the refusal in writing so that you can submit it to the State Medical Board and Secretary of State. That should do the trick.
Finally, contact your attorney as soon as possible. The average medical malpractice case lasts three years; the sooner you get started, the better.
Contact Michael Neff today at (404) 531-9700 or mneff@mlnlaw.com.
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