Charnoff Simpson PLLC, When Medical Care Causes Harm Because of Malpractice
A recent study by researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine has found that medical errors may be the third leading cause of death in the United States. By looking at a wide range of prior research, the Johns Hopkins study estimates that over 250,000 patients die each year from medical errors. Affected patients and their families deserve justice.
If you or your loved one has suffered significant harm in the course of medical care and you suspect malpractice occurred, consult with one of our attorneys at Charnoff Simpson PLLC in Vienna, Virginia, to request a case evaluation and to discuss the process of initiating an investigation.
What Is a Medical Error?
A medical error occurs when a health care provider either administers the wrong medication or another misguided treatment for a patient’s medical issue or improperly administers the correct treatment. These are human errors – they are mistakes made by health care professionals in the course of a patient’s treatment that ultimately harms or kills the victim. These errors can range from not properly sterilizing equipment, to egregious delay in treatment, to performing the wrong operation on a patient.
Medical mistakes can have devastating consequences for affected patients and their families as they struggle to deal with their loved one’s injury, permanent disability or death.
How common is medical malpractice?
Whether a patient is seeing their family doctor for a routine check-up or undergoing emergency surgery to handle a serious medical condition, medical malpractice can happen to anyone. There are thousands of medical malpractice cases made every year, however, the number of medical malpractice injuries is likely higher than that.
Only a handful of people may reach out to medical malpractice lawyers after suffering injuries from a medical professional. This often happens to medical malpractice victims who do not understand their legal options.
At Charnoff Simpson PLLC, we want to help victims of catastrophic medical malpractice get the compensation they deserve. We understand just how serious medical malpractice can be and the consequences that can follow if the right steps are not taken.
What are the most common medical errors?
Medical malpractice happens when a medical professional, such as a doctor, nurse, technician or hospital worker acts below the relevant standard of medical care, resulting in a patient’s injuries. This can happen if, for example, a doctor misuses medical equipment or a nurse administers the wrong medication.
We see common kinds of medical errors with our clients. One is some form of misdiagnosis. This happens when a medical professional fails to diagnose an illness or injury. As a result, patients may not get the proper treatment necessary for them to recover from their medical condition.
Another is mistreatment. The doctor may correctly identify the problem but then fail to provide the proper treatment or, often worse, provide the wrong form of treatment.
Our lawyers have also worked with clients who have suffered serious surgical errors. A surgical error happens when a mistake is made during surgery, which has led to a patient suffering from severe injuries. A mistake as big as a surgical error can have life-changing consequences for victims. We want to see that our clients receive damages equal to their physical and emotional trauma.
Why do I need a medical malpractice attorney?
Although medical malpractice is common, each case is unique. One of our medical malpractice lawyers can make a thorough investigation to build a strong case for you.
Injured Patients: Seek Recourse Now
For those who have been injured or lost a family member due to a medical error, it is important to act quickly because the statute of limitations – the time within which you must file a personal injury claim – may be as short as 2 years from the date of the negligence or death.
There are few exceptions to the typical statute of limitations, which is why it is crucial to schedule a free consultation to speak with us as soon as possible at 703-291-6650. We are available to review the details of your situation and help you determine whether you have a case and how to pursue the compensation you deserve.