Rhea County Medical Malpractice Lawyer

Patients rely on many different health care providers to offer adequate, appropriate care. Doctors, nurses, therapists, pharmacists, and other providers must provide care that meets certain professional standards. When a healthcare provider fails to meet those standards, and that failure hurts a patient, the provider is negligent. Patients who suffered from a provider’s negligence can sue for medical malpractice.

If a patient died because of the malpractice, their surviving family members can sue. It may be critical to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney before seeking compensation in court. Rhea County medical malpractice lawyers can pursue a negligence case on your behalf.

Compensation for Medical Malpractice

When a healthcare provider acts negligently, their misconduct has a direct impact on their patient’s health. This kind of malpractice often creates unnecessary, life-threatening situations for the patient. That is why state law permits victims of medical malpractice to sue faulty health care providers for compensation related to the malpractice, including for medical bills and lost wages. As with all other civil lawsuits, malpractice victims must file their claim on time according to the state’s statute of limitations. Malpractice victims have one year to file their lawsuit.

Tennessee also requires a notice and waiting period before filing a medical malpractice lawsuit. This pre-suit notice requires using very specific forms and procedures.  Many cases have been dismissed because the victim’s medical malpractice lawyer did not comply with the pre-suit notice requirements before filing a lawsuit.

However, an injured patient may not discover the full effects of the malpractice within a year. In those cases, the victim has one year from the date of discovery (or when discovery should have happened) but no longer than three years from the date the malpractice occurred to file the lawsuit. Again, the pre-suit notice requirements must be met before filing the lawsuit. Clearly, time is of the essence in medical malpractice cases. Victims should contact a Rhea County medical malpractice lawyer right away to ensure their case is filed on time.

Pharmaceutical Errors in Rhea County

Pharmacists play a key role in the healthcare system. When doctors or nurse practitioners prescribe medications, they and their patient rely on the pharmacist to fill that prescription properly. Like doctors and other health care providers, pharmacists have a responsibility to act reasonably to avoid injuries to patients.

Pharmacists must adhere to professional standards to ensure that patients get the care they need to heal. Unfortunately, sometimes pharmacists do not follow their professional standards. When that happens, they make errors that can hurt a patient. For example, a careless pharmacist may give a patient someone else’s medication by mistake.

Another common error is when a negligent pharmacist fills someone’s prescription with the wrong dosage of medication. In these instances, the patient can suffer serious harm due to medication reactions, overdosing, or other complications. Patients who suffer such injuries can sue the negligent pharmacist. Those who suffer due to a medication error should contact a Rhea County medical malpractice lawyer for help.

Nursing Home Abuse

Tennessee nursing homes have a legal obligation to provide safe care and sanitary conditions for residents. Nursing homes can be held responsible for the physical, financial, emotional, and sexual abuse staff members may inflict on a resident. Too often, nursing home staff have failed to provide adequate medical care to residents. Nursing home abuse is also a common problem in many facilities. When a healthcare provider at a nursing home commits medical malpractice, the resident’s family can sue the facility. Similarly, family members are able to sue a nursing home for other forms of abuse and neglect. If you or a loved one suffered injury or illness due to a medication error, nursing home abuse, or another form of medical malpractice, contact us to hire a Rhea County medical malpractice lawyer. Attorneys can find out who caused you harm and hold them accountable in court.