Harford County, MD Medical Malpractice Lawyer
We put our faith and trust in our medical professionals and healthcare providers to make decisions that are in the best interests of our health. We anticipate that our doctors and nurses have the skill and expertise to accurately diagnose our medical conditions, safely perform surgical procedures, and professionally deliver our children into the world.
Unfortunately, medical mistakes and injuries occur. When the mistake or injury is the result of negligence on the part of your doctor, nurse, healthcare provider, or hospital, you deserve to be compensated for the harm you endured. Medical mistakes often result in catastrophic consequences. If you or a loved one was the victim of medical malpractice, call the Harford County medical malpractice attorneys at Rice, Murtha & Psoras (410) 694-7291 to review your legal options.
Suing for Medical Malpractice in Harford County, MD
Medical malpractice happens when a medical professional, such as a doctor, nurse, or another healthcare provider, acts negligently or makes a negligent decision that directly results in the harm or death of a patient. Medical malpractice also extends to hospitals, for example, failing to provide proper equipment or instituting unreasonable protocols. If you or a loved one has suffered because of the poor decisions or conduct of a medical professional, you need our experienced Harford attorneys fighting for you.
What is the Statute of Limitation for Medical Malpractice Claims in Harford County?
You do not have all the time in the world to seek compensation for your injuries. Every state sets specific deadlines for filing medical malpractice lawsuits. Maryland’s statute of limitations requires a victim of medical malpractice to file a lawsuit within three years of the date of discovery of the injury or five years from the date of the incident – whichever is shorter. There is an exception for minors. If a person is a minor at the time of the injury, they have until their 21st birthday to file a claim. If you believe you or a loved one was the victim of medical malpractice, you need to consider your legal options immediately. Any delay could decrease your likelihood of success in a lawsuit.
How to Prove Medical Malpractice in Harford County, MD
To prevail in a medical malpractice lawsuit, a victim must establish that there was negligence on the part of a medical professional. Negligence occurs when a medical professional or healthcare provider harms a patient through inappropriate, careless, or negligence care. Medical negligence often has devastating and life-altering consequences. If a doctor or nurse makes a preventable mistake, the victim could be permanently disabled or suffer a fatal injury. When the result of medical malpractice is a catastrophic birth injury, a person’s entire life could be ruined.
Not every medical error or poor outcome is the result of medical malpractice. To recover compensation for an injury arising from the conduct of a medical professional, you must prove that the conduct was legally negligent. In Harford County, our medical malpractice attorney will have to establish two elements to move forward with a personal injury lawsuit.
First, your doctor must have deviated from the acceptable level of medical care or practice that a patient should reasonably expect. To prove a deviation, we must prove that your doctor acted differently than a similarly trained and similarly prudent medical professional would have acted under the same circumstances.
Next, the deviation from care must have caused you harm. This link between the conduct and harm is important. A doctor could have made a grave error, but if the injury you suffered was going to occur anyway, the doctor’s conduct does not constitute medical malpractice, legally speaking.
Proving each of these elements is time-consuming and costly. In a medical malpractice case, a plaintiff often requires another doctor to offer their expert opinion on what should have happened. In Maryland, a certificate of merit is necessary to file a lawsuit arising from a medical error. This certificate must be from a qualified medical expert, and it must state that your claim has merit. At Rice, Murtha & Psoras, we have the staff and resources to build your medical malpractice lawsuit.
Types of Medical Malpractice Claims in Harford County, Maryland
Medical malpractice occurs in all fields and medical practices.
Diagnosis Errors
A common error that results in injury is the failure to diagnose a condition or the misdiagnosis of a patient’s symptoms. When a doctor fails to assess a patient’s medical condition accurately, critical treatment could be delayed or ignored.
Negligent Births
Giving birth still presents difficulties in many situations. When an obstetrician mishandles or negligently manages a challenging pregnancy or delivery, birth injuries are likely. A medical error or decision could result in cerebral palsy or other life-changing birth injuries.
Surgery Malpractice
Surgical mistakes and errors occur during complicated and routine procedures. Sometimes, it is leaving a sponge or other surgical instrument in a patient. In different situations, a surgeon might operate on the wrong body part or make a negligent incision. In addition to the actual procedure, costly medical mistakes occur during both surgical preparation and post-operative care.
Medication Errors
Medication is an integral part of treating illnesses and diseases in Harford County. However, medication is often dangerous, especially if certain drugs are negligently combined. Additionally, mistakes can occur in prescribing medication or when filling a prescription.
Call Our Harford County, MD Medical Malpractice Attorney to Schedule a Free Consultation
Negligent medical mistakes often have devastating effects – resulting in life-altering medical consequences or death. If you have suffered an injury or if a loved one died because of the negligent conduct of a medical professional, you need our Harford County, Maryland medical malpractice attorney. the attorney and staff at the Rice, Murtha & Psoras provide our clients with professional and sympathetic representation. We understand that every medical mistake affects a person’s entire life and believe they should be appropriately compensated. Call Rice, Murtha & Psoras (410) 694-7291 to schedule a free appointment.