Pittsburgh Medical Malpractice Lawyer

Doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other professionals in the medical field are obligated to provide care that meets the standard of their particular field. When they fail to meet that standard, either intentionally or through negligent behavior, they are committing medical malpractice and can be held liable if a patient suffers injury, illness, or death as a result of their actions. Common examples of medical malpractice include:

• Birth Injury Malpractice - Improper medical care, carelessness, or error on the part of a medical staff can result in serious injuries to a baby and its mother. Infants can sustain birth injuries including broken bones, brain damage from asphyxiation and cerebral palsy.
• Diagnosis Errors - An incorrect diagnosis, or a complete failure to diagnose a condition, can have severe consequences for the victim. As many conditions are time-sensitive, any diagnosis error can result in a worsening of the condition, or, in a worst-case scenario, death.
• Surgical Errors - Of all medical practitioners, surgical staff members must observe one of highest standards of patient care. Improper administering of anesthesia, operating on the wrong body part, and failure to ensure sterile conditions are all surgical errors that can catastrophically injure or kill a patient.

According to a document released by Public Citizen's Congress Watch in 2004, it is estimated that anywhere from 1,800 to 4,200 deaths occur every year in hospitals that were caused on some level from a medical error. This is a startling statistic and clearly demonstrates that danger patients are put in by negligent medical professionals. Whether the error came from failing to recognize developing symptoms, not taking proper action or making mistakes during procedure, it is not only inconvenient for the patient, but it can be completely life-threatening. As such, victims are entitled to take legal action under the representation of a Pittsburgh Personal Injury Attorney.

Establishing Liability

Whether you realize it or not, medical malpractice can be committed by any member of the medical profession. Nurses, doctors, surgeons, anesthesiologists and pharmacists can make mistakes. If these mistakes injure a patient, a medical malpractice suit may be appropriate. In order to collect damages for a medical malpractice lawsuit, you must be able to demonstrate that the medical facility or individual employees that treated you should be held liable for your injury or illness. For instance, if a doctor carelessly uses forceps during the birth of a child, the baby could suffer a serious injury.

In order to collect compensation for this injury, you must be able to reasonably demonstrate that the doctor's actions damaged the newborn. If the doctor acted negligently but his/her actions did not cause an injury, liability will be difficult – if not impossible - to establish. Additionally, hospitals and other medical facilities may be held liable for patients' injuries and illnesses. For instance, if a hospital negligently hired an under-qualified nurse or surgeon, the hospital may be held responsible for the careless, incompetent or reckless actions of the employee.

Medication Errors

Medication errors are one of the most common mistakes made in hospitals – especially by nurses. Common medication errors include:

• Misreading labels
• Miscalculating dosages
• Misidentifying the patient
• Administering the wrong medication
• Misreading physician medication order

Medication errors are dangerous. Even the right medi could result in serious health problems. In order for a drug to be administered correctly, the nurse must make sure that he/she is medicating the right patient with the correct amount of the right drug. Additionally, nurses must make sure that they administer medicine at the correct time. If a patient receives medication at the wrong time, he/she could suffer serious illness, an injury or death.

How Frank Walker Law Can Help Protect Medical Malpractice Victims

For this reason, it is extremely important that no time is wasted in getting the involvement of a knowledgeable lawyer if you think you may have a potential case. While not every injury or illness can be attributed to medical malpractice, when it was caused by the negligence, carelessness or recklessness of a doctor or medical staff, they should be held liable. Attorney Frank Walker possesses significant trial experience, and has provided representation to countless individuals in personal injury cases.

The law office of Frank Walker is dedicated to obtaining strong results for each client that we serve, providing skilled and tireless legal representation. If you have been injured or made ill due to medical malpractice, our firm is prepared to take action on your behalf. We will utilize any and all legal avenues available to pursue the most beneficial outcome to your case, no matter whether it involves a fair settlement from an insurance company or a jury award in a trial.