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PA Medical Malpractice Lawyers
Medical malpractice is the failure of a doctor or other health care provider to meet accepted standards of medical care and safety, causing injury or death to a patient. When the injured patient or family members bring formal legal action against those responsible for the injury, the resulting lawsuit is a personal injury claim for medical malpractice. Contact the PA medical malpractice lawyers at Munley, Munley & Cartwright, P.C. if you believe you have been the victim of medical malpractice.
Doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers are frequently responsible for making life and death decisions. Because their roles are so important, their actions are held to a very high standard. When they exercise poor judgment, fail to follow set procedures, or fail to communicate effectively with other medical staff, the consequences are very serious.
Medical malpractice or medical negligence can occur in a variety of circumstances, but some of the most common include:
- Missed diagnosis
- Delayed diagnosis
- Anesthesia errors
- Surgical injuries
- Labor and delivery-related injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Medication errors
- Improperly prescribed or dispensed medication dosages
Medical malpractice claims often involve severe injuries, such as organ damage, decreased mobility or use of a limb, paralysis, and even death. It’s no surprise that victims and their families want justice for the harm they have suffered. However, in Pennsylvania, medical malpractice claim requirements have become stricter over the past decade, making it even tougher for victims to obtain compensation. Pennsylvania medical malpractice attorneys must now obtain a certificate of merit from another doctor – this certificate establishes that the treatment didn’t meet accepted standards of care. Another change in the law requires that medical malpractice or medical negligence claims be filed in the county where the injury occurred. Perhaps most complex, hospitals now have increased protection in cases where claims are brought against non-employee staff practicing at their facility. Patients often do not realize that medical providers such as radiologists and other specialists may work at a hospital without actually being hospital employees.
In addition to these legal issues, the power of insurance companies is another important factor in malpractice claims. Virtually all medical professionals retain high insurance policies to protect against medical malpractice. When a patient files a medical negligence claim, representatives from those insurance companies are among the quickest to act; pressuring victims into signing releases prohibiting them from future legal action.
If you suspect medical malpractice has played a role in your injury, you should consult an experienced PA medical malpractice lawyer immediately. Hospitals and other medical organizations will contact their legal counsel quickly if they suspect medical malpractice – and their attorneys are paid high retainer fees to minimize financial damages. Also, in most cases medical negligence victims only have two years from the date of their injury (or the date they discovered their injury) to file a claim.
The Pennsylvania medical negligence attorneys at Munley, Munley & Cartwright, P.C. have more than 40 years of experience in handling personal injury cases. Our goal is to provide exceptional legal services to our clients. We strive to achieve the highest standard of excellence for the protection of individual rights through teamwork and the use of our considerable resources and experience.
We have offices conveniently located in Scranton, Stroudsburg, Carbondale, Plains, Hazleton, Harrisburg and Hamlin, PA. If you have been injured as a result of medical malpractice, please contact us online or by telephone at (800) 318-LAW1 for a free review of your case.
Our PA medical malpractice lawyers have received numerous professional awards and recognition, but we are most proud of our strong commitment to the victims we represent. For more information about our lawyers and firm, please visit http://www.munley.com.
