Most people put a lot of faith in their doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and other medical professionals. When people feel sick, they trust their physicians will correctly identify their illness and offer solutions to cure or manage their symptoms. Unfortunately, just as other professionals make mistakes, medical professionals sometimes cause their patients to suffer significant harm.
When a medical error injures you or a loved one, you need a seasoned Stockton medical malpractice lawyer by your side. Fortunately, our skilled attorneys could help you determine what went wrong and fight for justice.
What is Medical Malpractice?
Like everyone else, medical providers often make mistakes. The courts recognize that not every doctor is perfect. For example, an emergency room doctor might need to make a quick decision on whether to operate on an unconscious patient without being able to ask the patient whether they have any drug allergies. If that doctor gives that patient a medication that causes them to suffer a severe allergic reaction, that would be a medical error; but it would not necessarily be malpractice since the doctor acted as reasonably as possible, given the emergent circumstances.
On the other hand, when a patient suffers adverse health consequences due to a preventable medical error made by a healthcare professional, the patient could have legal grounds to pursue a malpractice claim. However, determining what constitutes medical negligence is not easy, so speaking with an experienced attorney in Stockton is crucial.
Common Types of Malpractice Committed in Stockton
Several medical errors can cause a patient to suffer further injuries or illnesses. Common mistakes made by healthcare providers include the following:
- Birth injuries
- Surgical errors
- Anesthesia errors
- Providing the wrong treatment
- Lack of informed consent, including failure to warn of possible risks
- Medication mistakes, such as giving too much or too little medication or giving the wrong drug or dosage
- Diagnostic errors, including failure to diagnose, misdiagnosis, or delayed diagnosis – Timely treatment is often the key to a smoother and faster recovery. Any delay in medical treatment could worsen a patient’s condition or force them to undergo unnecessary medical treatment and pain.
Physicians are not the only people who might face legal accountability for their errors in malpractice claims. Pharmacists, emergency medical technicians, physical therapists, nurses, lab technicians, medical aides, hospitals, nursing homes, and other institutions could face liability for medical negligence. Sometimes, multiple parties could be responsible for a patient’s injuries.
A hardworking lawyer in Stockton could review the patient’s medical charts and speak with other medical professionals regarding the case’s circumstances to determine what happened and who bears legal responsibility.
Get in Touch with a Medical Malpractice Attorney in Stockton
Recovering from a medical mistake can be grueling: you may have undergone unnecessary medical procedures, or your health may have worsened. While nothing can turn back time to prevent the error, taking action against the negligent medical professional could make a difference in your life—and the lives of future patients.
Additionally, the payments you receive from a successful lawsuit could pay for the proper medical care you deserve while helping to support your family during this trying time. Get in touch with a Stockton medical malpractice lawyer today to begin your case and let our tenacious legal representatives fight for you.