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Medical Malpractice
Floridians who are ill or injured put their lives in the hands of doctors and other medical professionals every day in the hope and trust that they will make them well. Unfortunately, they often do not get well. Sometimes this is the natural cycle of life. But sometimes – too many times – it is not natural; it is the result of a medical error, negligence or medical malpractice.
Statistics are hard to come by, in part because many probable cases of medical malpractice go unreported; but some reports say preventable cases of medical negligence victimize as many as 250,000 people in America every year and take the lives of nearly 100,000 Americans annually. In Florida, with its elderly population, who knows how many preventable injuries and deaths are written off as being due to age and infirmity?
The untimely death of a family member or another loved one is one of the most tragic, emotionally charged incidents an individual or family can experience. And if you suspect it was a death that could have been prevented, the pain is immeasurably deeper.
Contact the Medical Malpractice Lawyers of Philip DeBerard, Injury Attorney
Trust in the law firm of Philip DeBerard, Injury Attorney, for help with your Florida medical malpractice claim. We serve victims of medical negligence and malpractice in South Florida and the Treasure Coast, including in Stuart, Port St. Lucie, Fort Pierce, Jupiter, Okeechobee, Palm Beach and Vero Beach.
Call 888-649-6095 now to speak with a compassionate medical malpractice lawyer, or fill out our online contact form.
Do I Have A Medical Malpractice Claim In Florida?
Medical malpractice occurs when a patient is harmed by a negligent act or omission by a doctor or another medical professional. Negligence may include errors in the diagnosis, treatment or management of an illness.
“Medical professional” may include doctors, nurses, surgeons, anesthesiologists, physician’s assistants, chiropractors, dentists, pharmacists and others. Depending on the circumstances of the case, a hospital, the hospital staff or another medical care provider and its staff may be defendants in a malpractice case.
A medical malpractice lawsuit might be based on the allegation that a patient was harmed because a doctor, surgeon, nurse, etc., deviated from generally accepted standards of practice, or that the hospital provided improper care or inadequate training, or had demonstrable problems with medications or sanitation.
Medical malpractice cases are demanding and require thorough investigation by an experienced legal team on behalf of the client. Any medical procedure can fail, and an undesired outcome, even death, is not necessarily malpractice.
In any case of a serious injury or death that occurs while in the care of a medical professional, it is important to have the case reviewed as soon as possible by an experienced Florida medical malpractice attorney, such as those employed by the law firm of Philip DeBerard, Injury Attorney.
Common Types of Medical Malpractice
- Surgical errors. These include operating on the wrong limb or organ; leaving clamps, sponges, gauze or other instruments inside the patient; puncturing another organ; and using unsanitary instruments. Failure to properly monitor the patient after surgery or to provide proper post-operative care is also surgical error.
- Birth injuries. Brain injury, cerebral palsy, brachial plexus injury and nerve damage are common birth injuries that may result from a doctor or nurse failing to notice signs of trouble or to act in a timely manner when emergencies arise during delivery of a baby.
- Anesthesia errors. When an anesthesiologist puts a patient to sleep for an operation he/she must carefully and continuously monitor the patient’s vital signs. Mistakes in dosage and monitoring can result in brain injury, suffocation, paralysis, heart attack, coma and death.
- Medication errors. Miscommunication, whether because of illegible handwriting, confusing abbreviations, similar sounding drug names, or carelessness, can lead to patients receiving improper drugs or dosages that produce injurious effects.
- Failure to diagnose/misdiagnosis. Taking incomplete medical histories, overlooking symptoms because doctors don’t spend enough time with patients or don’t listen attentively, or communicating information improperly with other medical professionals can lead to diagnostic errors.
- Emergency room errors. In many cities, hospital emergency rooms are increasingly crowded and hectic, but medical professionals have an obligation to provide attentive, proper care to each patient regardless of workload or environmental conditions.
Contact Philip DeBerard, Injury Attorney, Today
Philip DeBerard, Injury Attorney, has investigated medical malpractice cases in South Florida and the Treasure Coast and has protected the rights of Floridians victimized by medical errors and negligence since 1975. If you’ve been hurt, Philip DeBerard is on your side.
From offices in Stuart and Okeechobee, Florida, the medical malpractice lawyers of Philip DeBerard, Injury Attorney, have obtained millions of dollars in compensation for victims of personal injury throughout the state of Florida, including in Stuart, Port St. Lucie, Okeechobee, Palm Beach and Vero Beach.
Contact Philip DeBerard, Injury Attorney, at 888-649-6095, or fill out our online contact form. Put our experienced medical malpractice legal team to work on your case today.
More information about Florida medical malpractice:
