Medical Mistakes and Reckless Patient Care
When people see a doctor or schedule a medical procedure in New Orleans, Metairie or Gretna, they are often doing so to improve their health. It is normal for an individual to trust their well-being to medical professionals, because there is an expectation that they will provide the best possible care. While top care is given in many situations, it is an unfortunate reality that there are also times when mistakes happen.
Common medical errors can result in extreme stress and health issues for individuals and their families. If you are interested in learning more about how to file a medical malpractice claim in Louisiana, connect with a seasoned New Orleans personal injury lawyer.
Common Medical and Healthcare Professional Errors
To move forward with a successful medical malpractice claim, you will need to prove a healthcare professional or facility deviated from the standard of care and caused harm to the individual receiving care. Some common medical errors that can lead to malpractice claims include:
- Misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis. When a person is not diagnosed with a medical condition in a timely manner, or is improperly diagnosed, the patient may not receive the appropriate treatment, resulting in further harm or complications.
- Surgical errors. When the wrong procedure is performed, leaving surgical instruments inside the patient, or damaging organs or tissues during surgery, a malpractice claim connected to surgical errors is likely.
- Medication mistakes. Prescription and drug errors can occur when a healthcare professional prescribes the wrong medication or dosage, fails to take into account the patient’s allergies or other medications, or does not monitor the patient’s reaction to the medication, leading to illness, injury, or harm
- Birth injuries. When a healthcare team fails to monitor the mother or baby during labor and delivery, or uses excessive force during delivery, medical professionals could be held accountable.
If you believe that you or a loved one has been the victim of medical malpractice, a legal professional can help you through the process of filing a claim in Louisiana.
Medical Records and Notice of Intent
One of the first steps you can take to begin the medical malpractice claim filing process is to obtain copies of your medical records. Then, your New Orleans personal injury lawyer can review these records to determine whether evidence is outlined. If there is evidence, your attorney may suggest filing a notice of intent.
Timing is important. In Louisiana, it is a requirement to file a notice of intent to sue and this notice must be filed within a year of the alleged harm. Additionally, you must file a lawsuit within one year and 90 days from the date of the malpractice. If you miss these deadlines, you may be barred from pursuing malpractice recovery.
Have you been wondering what to do after harm due to a medical mistake? There are legal professionals available to help if you have received reckless patient care in New Orleans, Metairie or Gretna. Discuss your case with the skilled legal team at Palazzo Law Firm. Call 504-433-1442 for a free consultation.
