Memphis Medical Malpractice Attorney Advocates Greater Awareness in 2015

Call a Tennessee Medical Malpractice Attorney @ 1-800-632-1404
Call a Tennessee Medical Malpractice Attorney @ 1-800-632-1404

Free Tennessee Medical Malpractice Attorney Consultation: CALL TOLL FREE 1-800-632-1404

With errors by doctors and hospitals becoming endemic, 2014 was an eventful year for any Memphis medical malpractice attorney. The latest statistics hint at a steady decline in Tennessee medical malpractice lawsuits over the last five years, from 537 in 2008 to about 350 in 2014. However, the growing population and financial pressure continue to impact the quality of care enhancing the possibilities for medical mistakes.

According to the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, at least 15 million U.S. patients suffer deteriorating health conditions, injuries, and financial losses due to medical malpractice every year. An estimated 400,000 Americans (2013 figure) are victims of wrongful death because of errors by doctors, claims a report in the Journal of Patient Safety. In 2013, out of 370 lawsuits filed, only 24 went for trial and Tennessee medical malpractice lawyers obtained compensation awards averaged at $349,354.38.

Medical malpractice claims in Tennessee have reduced in number following the adoption of “the notice and certificate of good faith statutes” in 2008. But still over 3,000 cases are pending at year end with over 400 lawsuits settled out of court each year.

Medical Malpractice: Most Common Examples

The most common claims against doctors, hospital, or diagnostic centers that plaintiffs submit for evaluation by a Memphis medical malpractice attorney include

  • Wrongful death due to medical error
  • Surgical mistakes
  • Surgical injuries (intraoperative)
  • Failure of doctors to foresee post-operative complications
  • Wrong or delayed diagnosis
  • Failure to diagnose in time
  • Prescription drugs that caused side effect injuries
  • Hospital infections, slip and fall injuries
  • Anesthesia error
  • Failure of doctors to read diagnostic reports correctly
  • Improper diagnostic reports
  • Failure to foresee a medical condition
  • Birth injuries during delivery
  • Wrong or superficial surgery
  • Lack of emergence care or standard of services

Please contact us or call on 1-800-632-1404 to have a free consultation with our experienced Memphis medical malpractice lawyers.

Contact a Tennessee Medical Malpractice Lawyer

If you or a loved one in Tennessee, Arkansas or Kentucky believes you are the victim of medical malpractice and have sustained an injury to yourself or your child, infant, parent or loved one, please contact us today.

CALL: 1-800-632-1404

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    Memphis Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Over Botched Surgery

    Contact a Memphis medical malpractice lawyer @ 1-800-632-1404
    Contact a Memphis medical malpractice lawyer @ 1-800-632-1404

    FREE CONSULTATION, CALL TOLL FREE 1-800-632-1404

    A Memphis medical malpractice lawsuit led to more than $30 million in damages for parents of a child who sustained brain damages during a caesarian delivery in 2005. The mother was hospitalized for emergency delivery after obstetrical reports indicated “stress and significant risk of injury” for the unborn child. However, doctors delayed the procedure by 79 minutes that caused the child to be born with significant injuries. The boy lives with cognitive impairment and spasticity (unusual stiffness) of his arms and legs, severely restricting his bodily functions.

    Filed in Memphis state court, the Memphis, Tennessee medical malpractice lawsuit sought damages to cover for the past and future medical and economic care of the child.

    Tennessee-based Quorum Health Resources, which runs a chain of hospitals nationwide, paid $33 million in 2012 to partially settle more than 70 medical malpractice lawsuits alleging botched surgery. A doctor at one of its facilities in New Mexico performed back surgeries using bone cement on these plaintiffs without proper procedural adherence and qualification. The non-FDA-approved spine procedure was not performed correctly causing patients to develop life-altering complications.

    Medical malpractice lawyers representing plaintiffs argued that the Tennessee hospital operator allowed these unapproved procedures by unqualified doctors “for financial gain.” In February 2014, a Jackson, Tennessee woman won $1.3 million in medical malpractice compensation following a botched elective abdominal surgery. She suffered from long-term physical and mental pain as her gaping stomach wound was not healed despite having the surgery for five years ago. The compensation included damages for “pain, suffering, scarring and disfigurement, associated emotional distress, and loss of income.”

    Defining Surgical Mistakes

    One can file medical malpractice lawsuit in Tennessee claiming botched surgery where there is ample evidence of

    • surgical error
    • experimental or mistaken surgery
    • wrong surgery
    • adopting wrong procedure
    • post-surgical complications
    • delayed surgery
    • surgery without proper training or diagnosis
    • anesthesia error
    • operating on wrong site
    • Leaving a foreign object in patient’s body

    Statute of Limitations and Compensation

    There is a one-year time limit for filing of a Memphis medical malpractice lawsuit claiming surgical mistake. It starts from the day of discovery of the injury, or when the patient should have known of the injury. However, no claim is allowed after three year from the date of surgery except when the litigation involves leaving of foreign objects inside the plaintiff’s body.

    In Tennessee, several types of damages may be awarded in a Tennessee medical malpractice case, including economic damages for medical expenditure, loss of income, and any financial losses suffered, and non-economic damages for pain, suffering loss of family rights, and intangible losses, subject to $750,000 ceiling in normal cases and $1 million limit in cases of death or major disability.

    A medical malpractice lawsuit involves complex legal and medical aspects and needs support by a qualified and experienced lawyer. Victims of injury and financial losses due to action or inaction on the part of hospitals, doctors, nurses, paramedics, or pharmacies have the right to seek a range of compensations by filling civil actions. To file a Tennessee medical malpractice lawsuit or seek expert guidance of lawyers for medical malpractice in Memphis, Jackson, or any part of state, please contact us or call on 1-800-632-1404.

    Contact a Tennessee Medical Malpractice Lawyer

    If you or a loved one in Tennessee, Arkansas or Kentucky believes you are the victim of medical malpractice and have sustained an injury to yourself or your child, infant, parent or loved one, please contact us today.

    CALL: 1-800-632-1404

    FILL OUT THIS FORM FOR FREE HELP:

      Your Name (required)

      Your Email (required)

      Your Phone Number (required)

      Case Details

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