Personal Injury Lawyer
Medical malpractice comes in many forms, and if you have suffered at the hands of a medical professional, you should receive compensation. While compensation can’t reverse the situation, it can help you with medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering. The following are some questions you might need answers to before starting your medical malpractice case.
Can I Sue for a Surgery I Didn’t Know Risks To?
Doctors are required to inform patients about serious risks that could arise from any type of medical procedure, but that doesn’t mean every little risk has to be detailed. For example, if a surgery could result in blood clots, that’s a serious issue that probably has to be disclosed. If you might get a mild headache the next day, the doctor probably doesn’t have to disclose that to you. There are two things you should ask yourself in this situation:
- Do other competent doctors disclose this particular risk in this same situation?
- Would I have made another decision about this procedure if the risk was disclosed?
If the answer is “yes” to both questions, you might be able to sue. If the answer is “no” to even just one of the questions, you might not have a case.
Who Do I Sue for Being Given the Wrong Medication?
If you are administered the wrong medication, a Memphis, TN medical malpractice lawyer like one from Darrell Castle and Associates, PLLC can explain that fault could fall with a number of individuals. The doctor may have prescribed the wrong medication. The nurse may have administered the wrong dose. The pharmacist may have put the wrong pills in the wrong bottle. The hospital staff may have rearranged the medicine cabinet and confused some of the medications. You have to take a deep look at the real issue to determine who to sue.
What Damages Can I Seek?
In a medical malpractice case, there are certain damages you can typically seek. This includes:
- Special Damages – These are the costs directly related to the malpractice. It would include the costs of medical bills and reimbursement for time you may have missed at work.
- General Damages – This would include things like pain and suffering, loss of consortium, loss of enjoyment of life, and more.
- Punitive Damages – If the medical professional acted in a particularly negligent way, or caused intentional harm, the court might award you punitive damages as a way to further punish the medical professional.
Contact Your Lawyer
When you are injured at the hands of a medical professional, you deserve to be compensated. Contact a medical malpractice lawyer today to get started with your case.