When visiting a Nampa hospital such as Saint Alphonsus, Mercy Medical, or St. Luke’s, it is likely that you expect the medical facility to have a reputable standard of care. However, sometimes a healthcare provider or medical professional is negligent, or administers substandard medical treatment that causes injury, harm, or even death. When medical malpractice occurs, devastating injury can result, which can cause pain that can last a lifetime. If you were injured at the hands of a medical professional’s negligence, your main focus should be on healing to the fullest extent possible. The attorneys at Litster Frost can help you file a medical malpractice claim to gain the compensation you deserve.
Can I Bring a Claim for Medical Malpractice in Nampa?
Medical malpractice law allows individuals to pursue compensation from any harm, injury, mistreatment, or death due to a medical professionals failure to meet the medical standard of care. If you have suffered at the hands of a medical professional who may not have met this minimum standard, then you may be able to bring a malpractice claim.
Unfortunately, medical malpractice is not an uncommon occurrence. The Medical Malpractice Center estimates that between 15,000 and 19,000 medical malpractice lawsuits are filed in the United States every year.
Idaho maintains a two-year statute of limitations on medical malpractice and personal injury claims, which means that you cannot bring a claim more than two years after you were injured. Therefore, it is extremely important to seek immediate assistance from an experienced medical malpractice attorney if you feel that you have been wronged by a medical professional.
What May be Considered Malpractice
A number of areas fall under the medical malpractice category. These areas can include:
- Pharmaceutical malpractice: Instances of pharmaceutical malpractice usually involve a patient being given the wrong prescription or dosage, either by the attending physician or the pharmacy. Being prescribed the wrong prescription can occur for a number of reasons, from a misdiagnosis, giving one patient another patient’s prescription, or some other negligent act.
- Surgical errors: Imagine coming out of surgery only to begin the recovery process and find that the surgical materials used had caused an allergic reaction, or that a surgical instrument was left inside of you post-surgery. Sometimes, although rare, a doctor can even perform surgery on the wrong body part, or perform a different surgery altogether. Each of these instances are grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit.
- Birth injuries: Bringing a child into this world should be a joyous time. Sometimes, however, there are instances where the labor process is difficult and the physician makes a decision that could impair the health of your baby or even cause nerve or spinal damage. Countless instances occur each year where the misuse of forceps has caused brain injury to an infant. Incorrect use of forceps can also cause skull fractures and blood loss.
- Delayed diagnosis: If you have been sick or feel that something is off with your health, you might go to the doctor numerous times before ever being diagnosed. As time passes, your condition might progress to the point where it has severely impacted your life or worse, is no longer treatable because you weren’t diagnosed in time.
- Cosmetic surgery malpractice: Frequently, patients undergo cosmetic or plastic surgery and end up with an injury from surgery. In some cases, individuals have even died on the operating table while undergoing what should be a routine procedure. In some states, a physician can perform cosmetic surgery even if he or she has not been trained to perform cosmetic procedures.
Injury from medical malpractice can be devastating; according to a 2017 survey from Diederich Healthcare medical malpractice cases:
- 31% of cases ended in death;
- 35% of cases resulted in permanent injury; and
- 14% of cases caused quadriplegia, brain damage, or injury that required lifelong care.
How Do I Bring a Medical Malpractice Claim?
Most of the time, a medical malpractice claim is handled like a standard personal injury case, which begins with you consulting a personal injury attorney who will evaluate your injury and begin to build a foundation for your case. The process of gathering information related to your injuries can be quite lengthy, especially if the medical professional responsible for your injury is aware of his or her negligence. Interviews are conducted, records are pulled, and a timeline is established to show that medical negligence resulted in your injuries. Having an experienced attorney on your side can make all the difference in receiving the compensation you deserve.
How Long do Medical Malpractice Cases Take to Litigate?
There is no solid timeframe for a medical malpractice case; each case is different. The more extensive your injuries, the longer it can take to establish fault, what actually happened, and how much compensation you should be entitled to. Some injuries are blatantly obvious, while others are internal and need more evidence to prove viability and culpability. A personal injury attorney will take everything into account, including your quality of life prior to the incident and the impact your injury has had on your current and future life. If you are seeing another physician for treatment due to the malpractice of another medical professional, your current physician’s opinion of your injuries will also impact on your case. Although medical malpractice cases are complicated, you are entitled to justice and compensation if you or a loved one has been a victim of a medical professional’s negligence.
Are You a Victim of Medical Malpractice in Nampa? Contact Litster Frost Today
If you have been injured by a medical professional, getting the assistance that you need from an experienced attorney is key. Your attorney will work to make sure that the law is followed and that your rights are protected every step of the way. Consult with a law firm which has the expertise, experience, and skills to build a strong case even when injuries are hidden or difficult to prove. Our job is to uncover every piece of evidence to earn you the compensation you deserve.
Medical malpractice can change your quality of life in a matter of minutes. You don’t have to face these struggles alone. You and your loved ones deserve the very best representation. While winning a medical malpractice lawsuit can never undo the damage or completely heal your injuries, the comfort of knowing that you have the compensation to get the treatment and care that you need is immeasurable.
Litster Frost serves Nampa, Idaho and surrounding areas. Don’t let your rights be violated. It’s time to call a team who understands and is ready to fight for you. You can trust and depend on Litster Frost Injury Lawyers to vigorously defend your case. For more information on medical malpractice in Nampa and surrounding Idaho cities, fill out an online case evaluation form or call (208) 333-3330 today.
