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What Will Medical Malpractice Law Be Like In 100 Years?
24.08.08
A medical malpractice attorney can help injured victims get compensation for their losses. The legal system that regulates medical malpractice cases is founded on common law.
According to common law, doctors are required to adhere to a specific standard of care when treating patients. If a doctor deviates from accepted medical practice and it results in a death or injury it could be liable for negligence.
Duty of Care
Medical professionals must adhere to a set standards that are accepted by the medical malpractice lawyers profession as being reasonable and prudent when providing medical care. If the standards aren't followed and the result is injury or health complications patients may be able to file a medical malpractice lawsuit (simply click the following page).
The first step in a malpractice case is to prove that you were a patient of the healthcare provider and that they were bound to act in a reasonable way. The next step is to prove that the breach of this duty occurred. This is typically done an expert witness that can provide a objective analysis and evaluation.
This expert witness will be able to determine if the defendant's actions were below the standard of care that is accepted in your particular case. The expert will review your medical records, and also interview or question you to make this determination.
You must be able to establish that the breach directly led to your injury. Causation is the 3rd element in a claim for malpractice. In most cases, you will require a direct cause-and-effect relationship between the breach of duty and subsequent injury. For example, a misdiagnosis could lead to the wrong medication or treatment being administered, which in turn causes an adverse reaction such as a heart attack.
Breach of Duty
Like all people, have a legal obligation to conduct themselves with reasonable care and be cautious. However doctors are held to a higher standard due to the fact that they are considered medical experts who make life and death decisions. The responsibility of medical care is described in the regulations and standards which are applicable to specific kinds of treatments and procedures.
One of the first elements that must be established in a negligence lawsuit is that the defendant was bound by a duty care to the plaintiff. It must be proved that the defendant violated the duty of care. This means that the doctor did not meet the standards of care applicable to the situation. The standard of care is typically determined by what a reasonable person would do in the situation. A reasonable driver, for example, would not run at a traffic light.
In a case of malpractice, experts are often required to testify about the standards of care and the way in which it was violated. They can also provide a detailed explanation of how the injury was caused and what could have been done to prevent it from occurring.
Damages
In the United States, physicians are required to have malpractice insurance in order to protect against potential losses that might arise due to medical negligence. To file a claim, the plaintiff must show both financial losses (such medical expenses and lost wages) and non-economic losses (such pain and suffering).
The amount of compensation you receive from a successful malpractice suit is contingent on how effectively your New York medical malpractice attorney argues for your losses. Your attorney can establish medically required costs by looking over your medical records, utilizing expert testimony, and collaborating with economic experts. For the loss of your earnings the medical malpractice lawyer has to establish the number of days you missed work because of your medical conditions and the fact that the absences were due to the defendant's negligence.
The non-economic loss can be more difficult to prove and may require the help of a professional who will be able to testify about your physical, emotional and mental suffering as a result of negligence of the defendant. Loss of consortium is another kind of non-economic loss. It is the inability to maintain an intimate relationship with your spouse or other significant person in the same way you used to. The lawyer representing the defendant may challenge your noneconomic damages by way of interrogatories, depositions, and requests for documents and sworn testimony.
Statute of Limitations
Like all states, New York has a statute of limitations that must be met before a medical malpractice lawsuit can be filed. If not, the court will dismiss it. A New York medical malpractice attorney who is experienced will be aware of the nuances of these deadlines. They will also ensure that your claim is submitted before the deadlines set by law.
In most cases, victims of medical malpractice must present a lawsuit within two and a half years from the date when the act or omission of a health care provider caused the injury or death. As with all laws this law is not without exceptions. If, for instance, the error of the health professional was part of a ongoing course of treatment, then the "clock" of 30 months will not start until the treatment has been completed or the patient has been informed of the diagnosis.
In some instances such as when an object that is foreign remains within the body following surgery or treatment, it may not be possible for a patient's to recognize the issue until much later. This is why many states have adopted a legal concept called the discovery rule, which allows injured victims to extend deadlines in certain instances. Your lawyer is familiar with the laws of your state and will examine your case timeline carefully to avoid administrative mistakes that can derail your claims.