Moncks Corner Medical Malpractice Lawyer
Most patients know nothing about healthcare issues, except what they read on unreliable internet blogs or hear from well-meaning, yet ignorant, friends. Because patients depend entirely on their doctors for almost all information in this area, doctors have a legal responsibility to provide accurate information. This accurate information must be solely based on what’s best for the patient. The higher duty of care makes it easier for a Moncks Corner medical malpractice lawyer from The Stanley Law Group to establish negligence, or a lack of care.
Moreover, mostly since the standard of care is so high, damages are usually substantial in these cases. Additionally, medical malpractice, especially labor & delivery malpractice, usually causes lifelong injuries. These families shouldn’t have to rely on handouts to get by. Therefore, the compensation in a medical malpractice case usually includes money for economic losses, such as prior and future medical bills, and noneconomic losses, such as pain and suffering. Additional punitive damages are usually available in these matters as well.
Moncks Corner Medical Malpractice Lawyers and Malpractice Before Surgery
The duty of care does not kick in when surgery begins. Instead, it usually begins during the first doctor-patient interaction. Misdiagnosis is extremely common in the early stages of a doctor-patient relationship.
To avoid the dreaded “defensive medicine” label, many doctors do not order a full battery of diagnostic tests. Money is usually a factor as well. Many doctors are afraid that the insurance company will claim a test was unnecessary and refuse to pay for it.
Money is a factor in other areas as well. For example, many doctors over-delegate test result interpretation chores to less-qualified professionals, such as nurses or patient care technicians. These individuals aren’t qualified to perform such duties. Additionally, even if they accurately review tests, important details often get lost in translation when they report their findings to doctors.
About 20 percent of medical cases are misdiagnosed in South Carolina. In high school an 80 is clearly a passing grade. But in a court of law, because of the high duty of care, it’s clearly a failing grade.
Medical Negligence During Surgery
Birth injuries, which were mentioned above, might be the most common kind of surgical medical negligence. As a rule of thumb, about one in ten hospital births involve “some complications.” In about one in ten of these cases, these complications are serious and lifelong injuries.
Frequently, the seeds of a birth injury are laid during prenatal visits. Doctors do not react properly to red flags. Then, when emergencies arise, they often make bad decisions. These bad decisions include using dangerous instruments.
A vacuum extractor is a good example. If a baby is lodged in a mother’s birth canal, the doctor might attach a metal cap to the baby’s head. That cap is attached to a surgical vacuum pump. Then, the doctor literally sucks the baby out of the mother’s body. This procedure can seriously injure both mother and baby.
Anesthesia negligence is another major problem. Too much anesthesia, and the patient does not wake up. Not enough, and the patient could wake up in the middle of the procedure.
Malpractice After Surgery
Many doctors discharge patients for emotional or financial reasons. The family is ready to go home or the insurance company refuses to pay for another day.
According to the duty of care, doctors cannot base decisions on such factors. Patient health and safety, and only patient health and safety, must dictate how long a patient stays in a hospital. If patients go home too early and are seriously injured, the doctor is legally responsible for such injuries.
Rely on a Diligent Berkeley County Lawyer
Injury victims are entitled to significant compensation. For a free consultation with an experienced Moncks Corner medical malpractice lawyer, contact The Stanley Law Group. We’ve assisted injured victims in South Carolina for more than thirty years.
