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Philadelphia Medical Malpractice Lawyer

We trust healthcare professionals to take care of us. Whether we are having an emergency or trusting them with our continued health needs, the last thing we think about is that we will be harmed. Unfortunately, medical mistakes happen much more likely than most people realize.

When you need a Philadelphia medical malpractice lawyer, Soloff & Zervanos, P.C. is ready to step in and help. Our personal injury attorneys understand this area of law and will work to secure compensation for all of your incident-related expenses.

We Rely On These Professionals

There are not too many people who go a few months without seeing a medical professional. Think about how many of the following you interact with over the course of a year:

  • Primary care doctor
  • ER doctors
  • Nurses
  • Dentists
  • Optometrists
  • Surgeons
  • Pharmacists
  • Pharmacy technicians
  • Paramedics
  • Phlebotomists

All of these professionals perform valuable jobs and do what they can to keep us healthy. However, did you know that medical mistakes are the third leading cause of death in the United States?

  • Johns Hopkins researchers say an average of 250,000 people loses their lives each year due to medical mistakes. Millions more are injured and are left living with the consequences.

These mistakes occur in a variety of ways, but revolve around the following:

Diagnostic Mistakes

Researchers say that errors made when diagnosing patients cause more patient suffering and expense than any other mistake. Diagnostic mistakes can lead to early discharges, delayed treatment, or a patient never being treated at all.

Infections

One out of every 30 patients in the hospital acquires an infection each day. It is up to medical staff to check infection prone sites on patients regularly: IV sites, recent surgical sites, open wounds, etc. All staff should also properly disinfect surfaces and themselves in between each patient they see.

Medication Errors

We know that medication errors harm an estimated 1.5 million people each year. This can be due to a patient not receiving the correct medication, receiving the wrong dosage, or not receiving their medication at all.

Surgical Mistakes

Surgical mistakes can range in severity. You may have heard of the “never events” that can occur – leaving surgical instruments inside of a person, operating on the wrong body part, etc. However, there are more “minor” surgical errors that can be just as deadly.

An attorney in Philadelphia could review a situation and determine if a medical malpractice claim is possible.

Contact a Philadelphia Medical Malpractice Attorney When You Are Injured By A Healthcare Provider

You went to see a healthcare provider because you wanted help. The last thing you expected was that they would cause you harm. At Soloff & Zervanos, P.C., we know that these cases can become complicated. We also know you need compensation for the following:

  • Compensation for all medical expenses related to the mistake
  • Coverage of lost wages if you cannot work
  • Loss of enjoyment of life damages
  • Pain and suffering damages
  • Punitive damages against the people responsible

When you call us, we will get to work investigating what happened. When you need a Philadelphia medical malpractice lawyer, you can contact us.

Medical malpractice cases tend to soak up a lot of media coverage, and yet millions of Pennsylvanian residents do not know all of their rights and obligations as patients. For a victim of medical malpractice, it is perfectly normal to have hundreds of unanswered questions.

Luckily, you have our attorneys from Soloff & Zervanos, P.C., who will be happy to assist you by providing a free phone consultation. The sooner you get legal help, the better.

Does a Doctor Have to Explain the Risks of Surgery?

Before performing surgery, a doctor has a legal obligation to shed light on the risks associated with the proposed or planned surgery. Moreover, a medical professional must outline available treatments and procedures, if any, as an alternative to the surgery.

These legal duties fall under the category of the “informed consent doctrine.” A doctor performing surgery without explaining the risks and available alternatives is considered a form of medical malpractice on the basis of lack of informed consent.

Who Can Become a Victim of Misdiagnosis?

Another form of medical malpractice is a misdiagnosis. Our medical malpractice lawyer in Philadelphia explains that just about anyone can become a victim of it. Approximately 10 percent of patient deaths in our country are attributed to misdiagnosis, or, in other words, doctors diagnosing a patient with a wrong condition, illness, or injury.

The best way to protect yourself from misdiagnosis in hospitals is to (a) be 100-percent open and honest with doctors when obtaining diagnosis to ensure accurate results, and (b) consider getting a second opinion from another medical professional.

Is There a Difference Between Misdiagnosis and Failure to Diagnose?

Misdiagnosis and failure to diagnose are common types of medical malpractice. Although these two forms of medical malpractice are slightly different, they are essentially the same thing. If a doctor fails to accurately diagnose your medical condition, which causes you to suffer harm, and you have evidence to prove it, then you have a valid medical malpractice claim.

Who Can Be Sued for Surgical Errors?

Although it might seem that surgeons are the only party to blame for any surgical mistakes, it is not entirely true. Our medical malpractice attorney in Philadelphia explains that depending on the circumstances, you may also be able to sue the nurse, surgeon assistant’s, anesthesiologist, pharmacist, or even the hospital itself.

The most common surgical errors are operating on the wrong body part, leaving a piece of surgical equipment (foreign object) inside the patient’s body, administering an incorrect amount of anesthesia, and performing an incision at the wrong location, among others.

Can I Sue My Dentist for Medical Malpractice?

“Yes, you can,” says our Philadelphia medical negligence lawyer at Soloff & Zervanos, P.C. Dentists must abide by the highest standards of care in the medical community, just like any other medical professional. Therefore, a dentist who fails to provide good dental care and, as a result, a patient suffers an injury when getting implants, crowns, braces, bridges, dentures, fillings, extractions, and other repairs and procedures, can be held liable for committing dental malpractice.

Is Autopsy Required in Wrongful Death Cases Resulting from Medical Malpractice?

Although an autopsy is not required, it is necessary in many types of medical malpractice cases to establish fault and demonstrate evidence that the doctor’s negligence was the direct or proximate cause of the patient’s death.