Mercer County Medical Malpractice Attorney
Medical malpractice is something no patient deserves. Health care professionals go through extensive education and training before they can work on patients with the intention of preventing malpractice. Unfortunately, it’s not enough to guarantee each and every patient safety from negligence, carelessness, or physician incompetence. There will always be negligent doctors and hospitals – as well as injured patients. If you’re one such patient in Mercer County, the lawyers at Dallas W. Hartman P.C. want to hear from you.
Types of Medical Malpractice in Mercer County
The definition of medical malpractice is any action or behavior that falls outside of the health care professional’s duties of care to the patient. Every doctor has to say the Hippocratic oath before treating patients. Part of this oath is to care for each patient with the same level of skill and prudence as a reasonable doctor would in the same circumstances. Any failure to do this that results in patient harm is malpractice. While there are endless types of medical malpractice, the most common are as follows:
- Anesthesia errors
- Birth injuries
- Diagnosis mistakes
- Emergency room errors
- Lack of informed consent
- Medication mistakes
- Negligent pre- or post-operative care
- Negligent prenatal care
- Surgical errors
- Unsanitary premises or tools
To make a personal injury claim, the act of malpractice has to have caused the patient some kind of damage. This can include injury or illness, medical bills, physical pain, and emotional suffering. The injured party must also show that a doctor-patient relationship existed at the time of the alleged malpractice. The elements and requirements of this type of claim can get complex in Pennsylvania. Our attorneys can help.
Claim Requirements in Pennsylvania
Going up against a physician or hospital in Mercer County is no small task. You’ll likely bring your claim against a major insurance corporation. The State of Pennsylvania makes it difficult to pursue compensation for medical malpractice without assistance from an attorney. They have a stringent filing process that includes filing an affidavit, or certificate, of merit within 60 days of bringing your claim. The affidavit needs an attorney’s signature and a statement of one of the following:
- There is reasonable probability that the defendant breached a duty of care,
- The defendant was responsible for the person that breached the duty of care, and/or
- The plaintiff does not need expert testimony to pursue the claim.
The affidavit serves as a way to weed out false or fraudulent claims. In Pennsylvania, you also need to hire an expert witness to testify to the defendant’s breach of duty, unless negligence is obvious to a non-expert. The expert chosen must be a physician who practices or teaches in the field, who has experience in a related field, and who is of a similar specialty to the defendant.
Your Hermitage/Grove City Medical Malpractice Attorneys
At Dallas W. Hartman P.C., we have the connections and resources to hire top experts in the field if necessary to prove your medical malpractice claim. We also have the knowledge and experience to excel in and out of the courtroom. When you come to us for assistance, we make you our top priority. You’ll have a Mercer County personal injury attorney by your side every step of the way. Start with a free initial evaluation.