We rely on healthcare professionals to provide us with exceptional care. The fact is that physicians are held to a higher standard of care, being expected to utilize their specialized knowledge and training to diagnose and treat patients accurately. While most adhere to this standard and even exceed it, many fall short of it. Although physicians cannot guarantee a specific outcome, providers should be held accountable for any errors that directly cause patient harm.
Injuries that you sustained during a routine surgery or a physician’s misdiagnosis can impact your day-to-day life. If these injuries were the direct result of a physician’s oversight, you may be entitled to compensation. Our medical malpractice lawyers can help you recover everything you deserve.
Standard of Care in Medical Malpractice Cases
You have likely heard that healthcare professionals are required to deliver a standard of care that meets acceptable expectations. But what does it really mean? In a medical malpractice case, a physician provides an adequate standard of care if they act in the manner that another physician would have under the same or similar circumstances. Given the various medical specialties, the standard of care may vary slightly from one physician to the next.
Proving a Medical Professional’s Negligence
A physician who fails to meet the expected standard of care can be found liable if the mistake causes the patient harm. Proving a physician’s negligence requires sound medical evidence, including medical imaging, the physician’s notes, and testimony from witnesses. Common examples of medical malpractice that our firm handles include birth injuries, diagnostic errors, hospital negligence, and surgical errors.
The Role of an Expert Witness
Given the complexities of medicine, our legal team will also employ an expert witness to provide their insight. An expert witness possesses specialized knowledge in a particular field, enabling a judge or jury to understand the evidence before them and reach a conclusion about fault. Often, an expert witness—a physician or other medical professional—can help laypersons understand the acceptable standard of care and how the provider deviated from it.
Additionally, an expert witness will establish the causal link between the healthcare professional’s actions and the harm you suffered. This connection must be established for you to recover damages or reimbursement for any losses you suffered.
How Can a Medical Malpractice Lawyer Help?
A medical malpractice lawyer’s intricate knowledge of the law and experience with medical malpractice cases can help you recover the compensation rightfully owed to you. In medical malpractice cases, the plaintiff (you) must prove that your healthcare provider’s actions more likely than not caused your injuries. Meeting this burden can be challenging, but a medical malpractice attorney will know what evidence to gather and how to present it to help you achieve the best possible outcome.
Moreover, attorneys are trained in the art of negotiation, tirelessly fighting for the compensation you deserve. Effective negotiation involves ongoing communication, anticipating what the other party will offer, and persuading them to reach an agreeable amount. Damages in a medical malpractice case can be extensive, but often include lost wages, medical expenses incurred due to your injury, and pain and suffering. Recouping these damages can mean the difference between having your medical needs covered and struggling to meet your financial obligations.
Contact Our Gettysburg Medical Malpractice Attorneys Today
The harm that you suffered at the hands of a medical professional should not go unpunished. If you or a loved one has recently been injured due to a provider’s ineptitude, our Gettysburg medical malpractice lawyers are more than happy to discuss your case. You will not pay a cent unless our legal team obtains compensation for you. To learn more about our services, feel free to contact Shollenberger, Januzzi & Wolfe online or by calling (717) 229-6580. We offer free initial consultations.