Fact Sheet about Medical Malpractice: When Medical Care Doesn’t Go As Planned
Each year, the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania, which is the unified state court system for Pennsylvania, produces reports based on statistics related to medical malpractice jury and non-jury verdicts. Some of the medical malpractice statistics include:
- There were 35 medical malpractice lawsuits filed in Chester County in 2014.
- Of those 35 medical malpractice cases, 5 cases went to trial, of which one jury verdict was awarded to a victim patient for more than $10 million.
- This means that 30 medical malpractice cases filed in Chester County were either dismissed, or more likely, settled out of court.
- Over the past 10 years, on average about 33 medical malpractice cases are filed each year in Chester County.
Medical Malpractice Incidents
There are many medical centers, hospitals and senior care facilities located in Chester, and any patient or resident of one of these facilities could be subject to medical malpractice or negligence when obtaining medical care.
Common Sources of Injuries In Medical Malpractice Cases
Medical malpractice claims find their sources in all kinds of medical activities and negligent care provided by medical professionals. Some of the common sources of medical malpractice injuries include:
Failure to Conduct Testing
Many conditions and illnesses must be found using a test. Similarly, many potential complications during surgery or other medical procedures can be avoided if testing is conducted before the procedure to identify any potential complications.
Missed or Delayed Diagnosis
A missed or delayed diagnosis can exacerbate symptoms or harm associated with an illness, condition or injury, and can make existing injuries worse.
Substandard Care, Evaluation or Treatment
Doctors have a standard of care that they should be providing to all patients and a failure to meet that standard of care can result in substandard care, evaluation or treatment that can cause injury to a patient.
Negligent Administration of Anesthesia
Negligence due to improper administration of anesthesia can include administering too much or too little anesthetic, or failing to monitor a patient who is under anesthesia.
Birth Injuries
Newborns and mothers can become the victim of medical malpractice injuries during pregnancy, birth and postpartum care. Birth injuries to the baby can include broken or fractured bones, head injury and spinal cord injuries.
Surgical Errors
Surgical errors can be the result of surgeon incompetence, inadequate preoperative planning or preparation, poor communication between medical staff during surgery, improper adherence to operation protocol, or doctor fatigue.
Medication Errors
Medication errors can result from mistakes that happen when a prescription is written, filled or administered. Taking the incorrect medication, or having the wrong dosage of the correct medication, can cause harm to the person taking the medication.
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Medical malpractice can happen to any patient anywhere, including those patients seeking medical care and treatment in Chester. Cohen, Placitella & Roth, PC has more than 40 of experience working with clients having Philadelphia medical malpractice claims and we can help you.
Investigating Medical Malpractice Cases Requires Resources
In order to build a strong medical malpractice case, you will need to hire a lawyer to conduct a thorough investigation into your claim. This will involve getting in touch with experts in the medical field for obtaining a second opinion, contacting potential witnesses and obtaining their testimony concerning how your injury happened, and meeting with hospital administration to parse out proper medical procedure and identify whether a deviation from the standard of care was the cause of your injuries. Medical expert testimony is important in medical malpractice cases as these expert witnesses have the technical medical background and practical real-world experience to add credibility to your medical malpractice claim that the doctor failed to provide you with the appropriate care. Only a team of experienced Chester medical malpractice lawyers with access to a vast network of medical experts in the field and in possession of the resources necessary to prepare your case can do your case the justice it deserves. Cohen, Placitella & Roth, PC is able to help you.
During the investigation, a number of vital pieces of evidence will need to be collected to support your claim and to get to the root cause of your injury. First, evidence that a doctor-patient relationship existed must be collected, as well as evidence that shows that the physician, nurse or other medical staff was negligent while administering your medical care. Any evidence that suggests your injuries were the result of the medical professional’s negligence or improper care is important. It is also prudent to procure evidence of any specific damages you have suffered as a result of your injuries, such as further injury or treatment, medical bills, lost wages due to the injury, and predicted future medical expenses that are anticipated in order to provide you with the care you will need.
Many Chester residents will be treated at any one of Chester’s hospitals, medical centers or nursing homes this year, and instances of medical malpractice will occur. At Cohen, Placitella & Roth, PC, we strive to provide our clients with quality representation as we fight to get our clients the successful resolution they need for their medical malpractice case.
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