Youngstown Medical Malpractice Lawyers

What is Medical Malpractice?

According to data established by Johns Hopkins Hospital, medical errors result in an estimated 250,000 deaths each year, ranking third as a leading cause of death in the US. Additional studies have found that 41% of US patients believe they experienced a medical error during their care. The three most common reported malpractice issues in these studies were failure to diagnose properly, surgical error, and failure to administer appropriate medications or dosages.

When a health care professional, including hospitals, nurses, doctors, therapists, or other personnel, causes or increases injury to a patient through negligence or ignorance, it is considered medical malpractice.

Errors in diagnosis, failure to perform appropriate procedures or surgeries, and failure to diagnose proper health management and rehabilitation can all contribute to a medical malpractice case.

Legally, a medical malpractice claim falls into one of the following categories:

• Standard of Care Violation: Patients have the right to expect health care aligned with medical standards vetted and recognized by the healthcare industry. If those standards are not met or appropriately handled in a patient’s case, it could increase a patient’s risk or worsen their injury, with medical negligence potentially at fault.
• Injury Caused by Negligence: A patient must typically prove an injury occurred that was specifically and directly caused by negligence. Simply put, an unfavorable outcome in and of itself does not necessarily constitute negligence, but if negligence led to further injury, a medical malpractice suit may be established.
• Significant Damages Incurred as a Result of Negligence: Since medical malpractice lawsuits are expensive and lengthy, a patient must prove that excessive damages were the result of poor medical care and oversight.

Healthcare-induced injuries, disability, unusual pain, loss of income, excessive suffering or hardship, and severe financial cost can be reasons to pursue a medical malpractice claim, but this will require witness testimony, proof, and extensive research and litigation. The cost of eventual recovery must exceed the cost of pursuing a medical malpractice case.

Medical Malpractice: Common Causes

Medical malpractice can manifest in many ways but is often attributed to negligence on the part of a medical practitioner. Examples of medical negligence that might lead to a lawsuit include:

• Failure to diagnose or misdiagnosis an injury or medical issue
• Ignoring or misreading bloodwork, X-rays, or lab results
• Failure to recognize symptoms
• Gratuitous surgery
• Surgical errors
• Surgery in the wrong area
• Improper medication or dosage
• Poor aftercare
• Premature discharge
• Not taking appropriate patient history
• Failure to pursue testing
• Birth injury due to improper use and excessive force using medical tools
• Nursing home abuse

Medical Malpractice: Injuries & Harm

While the effects of medical malpractice vary according to the initial medical issue and healthcare failures or negligence, there’s a roster of common doctor malpractice consequences.

Typical consequences of medical negligence may include:

• Disfigurement
• Birth defects
• Disability
• Infertility
• Chronic pain
• Lost wages/lost employment
• High medical expenses
• Death

The first step in your malpractice case is proving that medical negligence took place. Once this is established, you must demonstrate that your injury and subsequent financial harm were a direct result.

Bringing such legal action is complex, with various requirements. But at KNR, all you will have to worry about is your recovery.

Possible losses in a medical malpractice case include, but are not limited to:

• Medical expenses
• Physical limitations
• Lost income
• Loss of consortium, or loss of personal relationships
• Disfigurement
• Pain and suffering
• Mental anguish

Current & Future Malpractice Damages

The negative impacts of a delayed diagnosis or surgical error are life-changing and often permanent. Any settlement or compensation you receive should also consider the long-term care you’ll need and what you will miss out on because of your injuries. Your attorney should work with your physicians and other experts to delve into your injury, and your ability to live independently, work and interact with others.

Set Up Your Free Consult

To give your malpractice the best possible chance, your attorneys need time to prepare. This includes conducting an objective investigation, reviewing medical records with independent experts, and taking depositions from those allegedly at fault. Ohio also requires an Affidavit of Merit, which comes from an outside medical expert to support that a medical standard breach resulted in your injuries. This can take some time, so the sooner you start, the better.

At KNR, our Youngstown malpractice attorneys will:

• Answer your questions and concerns
• Keep you updated during all stages of the process
• Obtain medical and financial records about the extent of your losses
• Identify the responsible medical professional
• Determine the fair and full value of your damages
• Negotiate for maximum compensation
• Fight for everything you deserve in court if necessary

If we find evidence that medical negligence caused or worsened your condition, we will pursue max compensation. We will put you in touch with the medical experts you need and push for an outcome that lets you move on with life, whether it’s a negotiated medical malpractice settlement or a court-won jury award.