When you go to a doctor, you expect him to provide you with the care you expect. Generally, medical professionals are outstanding individuals who will always go above and beyond to care for their patients. However, there are also situations where you could be harmed due to medical malpractice.
At Richardson Richardson Boudreaux, PLLC, we can provide you with Oklahoma City medical malpractice lawyers who will represent your rights and defend your interests. Learn more about how our Oklahoma City medical malpractice attorneys can represent you, and call us to schedule a case consultation in Oklahoma City, OK.
About Our Oklahoma City Medical Malpractice Lawyer
When you are looking for an attorney who can represent you, you need to make sure they specialize in the area of the law you need. While all lawyers graduated from law school, only some specialize in medical malpractice laws.
The law is far too vast for one lawyer to know everything, so when you are looking for someone who can take your case after a visit to the doctor, make sure they have a deep understanding and vast knowledge of medical malpractice.
Our lawyers at Richardson Richardson Boudreaux, PLLC, are highly experienced in representing clients in medical malpractice cases, and we invite you to look at our prior clients' reviews. Let our experienced medical malpractice attorney review your medical records, including your case's circumstances, and file a lawsuit on your behalf.
What You Should Know About Medical Malpractice
Proving medical malpractice is complicated, and patients need to know that just because their treatment did not go as expected doesn't necessarily mean medical malpractice has occurred. While doctors aim to perform to the best of their abilities, medical cases sometimes proceed differently than expected.
Medical malpractice focuses on comparing the unfortunate circumstances caused by the negligence or oversight of your doctor to what a reasonable medical professional with similar training and experience would have done.
In your case, we can bring justice by proving that any licensed medical professional would have done something differently if assigned to treat you. If we succeed, we can pursue a medical malpractice claim on your behalf.
Common Types of Medical Malpractice Claims in Oklahoma City
There are several common types of medical malpractice claims that clients seek our legal assistance for. Some of the most common examples of medical malpractice cases include:
Surgical Error
When you go to the hospital for a surgical procedure, you never know what might happen once you are sedated or asleep. After you wake up, how do you know if the process exactly went as it should?
If there was an issue with your surgical procedure, we could investigate the case to see if there is any hint or evidence of medical malpractice that has occurred.
Emergency Room Error
An emergency room doctor's job is to ensure you are stabilized and well before sending you home. If the emergency room doctor cannot ascertain your condition, he may decide to admit you to the hospital.
Things can happen very quickly in the emergency room, and there are situations when the emergency room doctor might make an honest mistake. We can look closely at your case to see if medical malpractice happened during your stay.
Diagnostic Error
Every patient depends on the doctor to make an appropriate diagnosis. Just because the doctor failed to diagnose correctly doesn't necessarily mean he committed medical error. But what if we can prove that a reasonable doctor with similar training and experience would have made the correct diagnosis? In that case, we can pursue a medical malpractice lawsuit on your behalf.
Medication Error
Medication errors are treated similarly to medical malpractice in the eyes of the law. Since you depend on the doctor to prescribe the correct medication for your injury or illness, any undesirable effect of these medications on your body can be attributed to your doctor's misdiagnosis through a wrong prescription.
We can prove medical malpractice in this situation by establishing that, again, a reasonable doctor would not have made the same kind of mistake.
Birth Injury
Giving birth to a baby can be incredibly exciting, and you would want your newborn to be healthy. Therefore, it can be devastating if your child is born with injuries or genetic issues.
However, if the injury is not inborn or could have been avoided, it could be a medical malpractice situation. We can investigate your child's delivery and ensure the doctor did everything possible to deliver a healthy baby.
Medical Equipment Failure
Finally, we can pursue compensation on your behalf if there is a medical equipment issue. We can examine whether the medical equipment was made of high-quality materials that underwent legitimate manufacturing processes. Also, we can investigate to see if required regular maintenance has been observed.
These are just a few of the most common examples of medical malpractice lawsuits that we pursue. If you have questions about a specific situation involving your medical care, contact us to schedule a case consultation.
Signs That Medical Malpractice May Have Occurred
There are a few signs that could indicate that medical malpractice may have taken place. Some of the most common signs you may notice if medical malpractice has occurred include:
- Your treatment isn't working as your doctor expected. Issues may inevitably happen because of each person's difference in biological makeup. But if your treatment isn't working despite its long-known efficacy, it could be a sign of medical malpractice.
- Medical malpractice could also exist if other doctors are shocked by the particular treatment or medication your assigned doctor prescribed you. If they consider the treatment unsuitable to your specific condition, it's a telltale sign that your doctor may have committed medical malpractice.
- If your doctor continues to order more tests, it could be a sign that your doctor may have ordered the wrong tests from the beginning.
- Medical malpractice could also have occurred if your doctor's first opinion differed from the subsequent opinions of other doctors.
These are just a few signs that might indicate you're a victim of medical malpractice. It would be best if you relied on a Richardson Richardson Boudreaux, PLLC, medical malpractice lawyer to investigate the situation on your behalf.
Assigning Liability in Medical Malpractice Claims
If there is a medical malpractice claim, we must carefully investigate whether your doctor has committed errors while treating you. While "medical malpractice" is usually associated with doctors, medical providers or administrators at all levels may also be responsible for the injuries, illnesses, or damages you have experienced.
In addition, there might be multiple parties at fault. We might pursue the doctor, the nurses, the mid-level providers, the hospital system, and even the companies responsible for manufacturing equipment and medications. We will work with you to ensure that everyone responsible for your situation is liable in the claim.
Proving Medical Negligence in Oklahoma
Just because you do not achieve the outcome you expect when you visit your doctor doesn't necessarily mean medical malpractice has happened. No doctor can guarantee the most favorable outcome for you.
However, a few signs could indicate that medical malpractice may have occurred.
Succeeding in proving a medical malpractice case includes the following factors:
- Duty: We must show that the doctor was duty-bound to tend to you while you were under his care. For example, a doctor tries to treat you while you're injured on the street. In that case, even if he does not treat your injuries completely, you cannot file a medical malpractice case because that doctor is not duty-bound to care for you. Your first-aid treatment was discretionary on his part.
- Deviation: We must also prove that the doctor somehow deviated from his specialization's readily accepted best practices. We may call upon expert witnesses to testify on your behalf to prove this fact.
- Damage: We will also have to prove that the doctor's treatment harmed you at some point. If the doctor deviates from his field's best practices, but you are not harmed, there is no medical malpractice.
- Direct Cause: Finally, we will have to prove that the doctor's deviation from the best medical practices was the direct cause of your injuries and illnesses. If you were harmed but the doctor's deviation was not the direct cause of that harm, we cannot prove the existence of medical malpractice.
At Richardson Richardson Boudreaux, PLLC, we will be with you every step to ensure your rights are protected and your injuries are addressed.
Damages Available in an Oklahoma Medical Malpractice Case
There are several different types of damages we can pursue on your behalf. Below are the available damages we can file in court:
Medical Expenses
If medical malpractice has occurred, you may likewise incur expenses that you may have otherwise avoided if your doctor only exercised the highest degree of care. We can pursue compensation to help you cover those medical expenses.
Loss of Earnings
How will you make ends meet if you cannot return to work due to your current situation? We can pursue compensation to replace your lost income during your second treatment.
Pain and Suffering
You might have suffered significant emotional trauma due to your medical malpractice situation. If you had to see a mental health professional because of it, we could pursue additional compensation for pain and suffering.
Punitive Damages
Finally, if the circumstances surrounding your medical malpractice case were particularly outrageous, we can also pursue punitive damages on your behalf. Contact us to see if your case qualifies you to claim punitive damages.
Statute of Limitations for Oklahoma Medical Malpractice Cases
In Oklahoma, you have two years to file a medical malpractice claim.
The clock starts ticking as soon as you have learned about the injury or illness you have suffered. Therefore, you must contact us immediately if you have suffered medical malpractice.
Affording a Medical Malpractice Attorney
We understand that many people think hiring a lawyer is expensive. If you want to pursue a medical malpractice claim with Richardson Richardson Boudreaux, PLLC, we will only compel you to pay for something if we win the case and get the compensation you deserve. We only charge a fee if we win your case, so you never have to worry about writing substantial checks to us.
If you are concerned that you may have suffered medical malpractice, contact us for a case consultation.
Talk to Our Experienced Medical Malpractice Lawyer at Richardson Richardson Boudreaux, PLLC Today
You need to make sure your rights are protected. If you believe you have suffered medical malpractice, count on Richardson Richardson Boudreaux, PLLC's Oklahoma City Medical Malpractice Attorney to represent you.
We are here to advocate for your rights and protect your interests, so call us to schedule a case consultation.
