Atlanta, GA Medical Malpractice Lawyer

Pursuing a medical malpractice case requires extraordinary diligence and persistence as well as a fair amount of courage. Doctors and hospitals seldom settle without a long, protracted battle. Failing to have a legal team in place with the resources to go the distance can torpedo an otherwise viable case. Due to the resources required to properly pursue a medical malpractice case and our desire to build deep relationships with the clients we serve, we have strict criteria for the types of medical cases we accept. Damages must be catastrophic. The medical malpractice cases we handle often involve those that have the worst of consequences. A provider error caused a person to lose their life, lose a limb, suffer brain damage, or caused severe, permanent, and life-altering type harm.

Medical Malpractice Attorney in Atlanta

When medical care is needed, we turn to doctors and other healthcare workers for help. The overwhelming majority of these individuals are dedicated professionals who take their job very seriously.

Medical malpractice is not suing a doctor just because a bad outcome happens. Unfortunately, bad outcomes happen in medicine that are not necessarily the provider’s fault. The fact that a different treatment path could have been offered does not necessarily give rise to a case. The law requires more than playing an armchair quarterback with respect to provider decisions. The law also requires that the harm suffered be the result of (or caused by) medical negligence. In other words, there should be a direct causal link between the negligent act of the provider and the harm suffered to the patient as a result. That a patient suffered severe harm while under the care of a physician is not enough to bring a case. 

Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare provider violates a rule established in the medical community for treatment under like circumstances and conditions. For example, it is a rule in the medical community that foreign bodies (such as sponges, etc.) used during surgery must be counted to ensure all are removed before completing surgery. If this rule is violated and a foreign body is left in a patient and the patient suffers harm, this is a violation of a rule that typically gives rise to medical malpractice case.

If you or a close loved one has suffered severe, permanent, life-altering type harm, or death due to a provider error, call 404.THE.BAER (404.843.2237). We will listen to what happened, answer your questions, gather additional information, and evaluate your potential case for no charge.

What Exactly Is Medical Malpractice?

Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare provider’s treatment fails to meet an acceptable standard of care. As a result of care that falls below the standard required in the medical community for a particular evaluation, diagnosis or procedure, the patient is harmed. Unfortunately, harm caused by the negligence of a medical provider can be catastrophic — severe brain injuries, loss of limb, paralysis and death can occur due to medical malpractice.

Common Mistakes Made By Doctors And Hospitals

Surgical Errors

Surgical mistakes, whether those mistakes occur in a hospital operating room or in an outpatient surgical facility, can be deadly. Communication among the surgical team is critical, especially between the surgeon and the attending anesthesiologist. Mistakes in the delivery or administration of anesthesia can cause permanent brain injuries or death. Performing a surgery on the wrong site (such as the left leg versus right leg) are egregious errors that unfortunately happen and are a clear violation of standard of care. Carelessness in performing a surgical procedure can have life altering consequences.

Medication Errors

This can happen if the prescribing physician makes a mistake in the dosage or amount. A pharmacist should catch the error, but often they do not. More frequently, however, medication errors occur on the pharmacy end. The wrong prescription is filled, or the wrong dosage provided. Unfortunately, this is happening with increased frequency as pharmacists (particularly those at some of the bigger chains) are pushed to do more and more with less resources. The New York Times shared a good article regarding this in its January 31, 2020 edition. These errors can ultimately put lives at risk. When grave consequences result from a prescription error, consult a medical malpractice attorney.

Birth Injuries

Mistakes during the delivery of a child can cause numerous heart wrenching conditions in the newborn that require a lifetime of care. Appropriate care can cost millions if not tens of millions of dollars over the life of the innocent child placing huge burdens on grieving parents.

Misdiagnosis

Patients trust doctors to make the correct diagnosis. If he or she fails to timely and accurately assess a condition, the results may be disastrous. A misdiagnosis occurs when a condition is not accurately and timely identified, and that delay causes life-altering harm. However, just because a doctor fails to accurately diagnose a condition does not mean that malpractice is committed. To constitute medical malpractice, the failure of a provider to correctly assess symptoms, read a report or order a test that would have revealed the proper diagnoses must be a violation of a clear rule established in the medical community.

Do You Have A Winnable Medical Malpractice Case?

Evaluating a case to determine if the injury is due to a violation or breach of the required medical standard of care requires significant time, review and analysis. Bringing a case against a medical professional for medical malpractice often requires obtaining testimony of multiple medical experts which can cost tens if not hundreds of thousands of dollars. In addition to high costs, medical malpractice cases typically take years to resolve. Doctors and hospitals seldom settle medical malpractice cases – at least not early in the process. The likelihood that a medical malpractice case will go to trial is far greater than other types of injury cases. At trial, more medical malpractice cases are lost than won. This is primarily due to the trust we have as a society in our healthcare providers which, as stated above, is well deserved. This is the biggest challenge to overcome at trial as it is typically difficult for a jury to find fault against a medical provider in a medical malpractice case.

Due to the time, expense and risk involved in bringing a medical malpractice case, injuries typically need to be catastrophic (permanent and life altering). Attorneys generally work backward in evaluating the viability of a medical malpractice case – assessing injuries first before the negligence. Unfortunately, many cases involving medical malpractice just cannot be pursued on the basis that the likely costs will exceed the potential recovery.

If injuries warrant pursuit of a medical malpractice case, several phases are involved in assessing whether the case is pursuable. These phases can take six months to a year, sometimes longer.

Phase 1

The attorney works with a nurse or doctor to review of all applicable medical records in conjunction with medical literature regarding appropriate standard of care

Phase 2

The attorney seeks the assistance of one or more medical experts – typically an independent physician well respected in his or her field – to review the records and provide an opinion. Often, multiple experts are needed in the reviewing phase to ensure all basis of potential negligence are covered.

Phase 3

Example of a tab The medical experts prepare detailed affidavits specifying one or more acts or omissions constituting negligence by the medical professional.

Phase 4

Only after these affidavits are signed can the attorney file a medical malpractice suit in Georgia.

There are three important points to consider if you think you or a loved one may have a case for medical malpractice:

• In most cases, a suit must be filed within two years of the act or omission causing injury. Most lawyers will not even consider taking a medical malpractice case that is within six months of the two-year mark or statute of limitations.
• Contact an attorney experienced in pursuing Atlanta medical malpractice matters and has the capacity to take on your case. Do not waste time with a lawyer who will sit on the case for months without taking any action.
• It will take considerable time for any competent lawyer to fully assess the merits of a potential medical malpractice case.

Why Hire Medical Malpractice Attorney Bryan Baer And The Baer Law Firm

Atlanta medical malpractice attorney Bryan Baer strictly limits the number of medical malpractice cases he takes on at any one time. This is because of the tremendous amount of time required to properly devote to a medical malpractice case in order to prevail. If The Baer Law Firm takes your case, it will be vigorously pursued, and you will know where the case stands throughout its phases.

Medical Malpractice Case Recent Results

Most of the medical malpractice cases that attorney Bryan Baer and The Baer Law Firm pursue involve errors and omissions in a hospital or surgical setting and often involve mistakes in delivering anesthesia or the monitoring of patients under anesthesia. Two recent cases below demonstrate the hurdles involved in these types of cases and how courageous and compassionate representation can lead to successful results.

Contact Medical Malpractice Attorney Bryan Baer At The Baer Law Firm

The Baer Law Firm has handled many complex medical malpractice cases. Atlanta medical malpractice lawyer Bryan Baer has the knowledge and expertise to dedicate to your case and obtain results you deserve. Call 404.THE.BAER (404.843.2237) or fill out our online contact form so we may discuss your case in a free consultation.