Marion County Medical Malpractice Lawyer

Doctors are required and trusted in administering care to their patients. But what happens when a doctor makes a mistake, or worse yet, intentionally injures their patient? This is when it becomes important to consult a Marion County medical malpractice lawyer.

If you were harmed because of medical malpractice, a dedicated medical malpractice lawyer can research your case, discuss your options, and help you charter a course of action that will be most beneficial to you.

Medical Malpractice Statistics

If an individual is concerned they may be one of few patients injured by a doctor, nurse, hospital, or other medical professional’s negligence, a Marion County medical malpractice lawyer can assure them that they are not alone.

According to Becker’s Hospital Review, that there has been an increase in the number of medical malpractice lawsuits filed in America each year.

In Tennessee alone, the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) estimated that there were nearly 2,000 Medical Malpractice Payment Reports (MMPR) between 2012 and 2016.

Negligence in Medical Malpractice Cases

Negligence is generally defined as the area of law that deals with mistakes. According to Black’s Law Dictionary, negligence refers to a failure to exercise ordinary or reasonable care – the type of care that a reasonably prudent person would exercise under the same or similar circumstances.

Since a doctor has specialized skills, they are typically held to a higher standard. Generally speaking, a doctor is required to exercise the same degree of care and skill that one would expect of a reasonably competent medical provider in the same class, acting under the same or similar circumstances. These rules vary depending on the jurisdiction of the Court.

Examples of Medical Malpractice

There are a wide variety of mistakes that a doctor might make, due largely in part to the complex nature of a physician’s work. Instances of medical malpractice which may require the assistance of a Marion County medical malpractice lawyer include:

  • Failing to obtain informed consent – Patients have a right to learn about the procedure they are undergoing prior to the procedure itself. Failing to obtain a patient’s agreement before performing surgery could result in an unwanted operation.
  • HIPAA Violation – The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) protects patients against having their personal health information shared with others who are not entitled to their information. Examples include disclosing information to non-privileged parties, mishandling medical records, publishing information about a patient on social media, or even illegally accessing files.
  • Improper anesthesia – Too much anesthesia can lead to an overdose, while too little could result in an individual waking up or feeling pain during a surgical procedure.
  • Failing to take patient history – Knowing the illnesses that run in a patient’s family, the patient’s past diseases and surgeries, and any allergies are crucial to a doctor’s treatment and diagnosis of a patient.

Other ways in which a medical professional can make a mistake includes:

  • Misdiagnosis, leading to treatment for the wrong condition
  • Premature discharge from a hospital or care center
  • Leaving an item inside of a patient
  • Surgical error, in which the wrong body part undergoes an operation

Contact a Marion County Medical Malpractice Attorney Today

The statute of limitations for filing a medical malpractice lawsuit in Tennessee is only one year from discovering the injury.

An individual that tries to file a lawsuit beyond the time period set forth by law may have their claim dismissed in court. If you would like to consult with a lawyer about your case, call a Marion County medical malpractice lawyer today. A skilled attorney will listen to your case and concerns, discuss the legal options before you, and possible steps they can take to get you the compensation you deserve.

Marion County Medical Malpractice Lawyer