A family medicine doctor works with you through all stages of life. You trust these providers to treat you with the utmost care, but unfortunately, this is not always the case. When doctors fail to meet the established standard of care, this is known as malpractice. Breaching the standard of care can lead to serious mental, physical, and emotional harm.
If your primary care provider failed to provide you with proper treatment, you may have a malpractice claim. To discuss your case and your legal options with a professional, schedule a consultation with a Bridgeport family medicine malpractice lawyer at Berkowitz Hanna.
Many people think of injuries as the only type of malpractice, but there are a variety of other mistakes and inactions that can constitute legal malpractice.
Misdiagnosing a patient can be a form of malpractice. There are two ways to do this — giving an incorrect diagnosis and failing to diagnose a condition. When a doctor, nurse, or other healthcare professional ignores signs and symptoms that clearly indicate a medical condition, they can be held legally accountable for their negligence. Timely treatment can make a massive difference in patient outcomes, especially with severe conditions such as heart attacks, strokes, and certain types of cancers.
Improper treatment is a side effect of misdiagnosis. If a doctor cannot make the proper diagnosis, then they cannot provide the appropriate treatment. In worst-case scenarios, they provide treatments that harm the patient without treating the underlying condition.
Negligent treatment is another form of malpractice. In a medical context, it is simply a failure to meet the established standard of care. One way that family practitioners can be negligent is by failing to refer patients to specialists for advanced care. A family medicine malpractice lawyer in Bridgeport can assess whether a family medicine practitioner’s actions rise to the level of malpractice.
Connecticut General Statutes § 52-584 establishes a two-year statute of limitations for medical malpractice claims. That means that victims have two years to file claims. However, the clock does not start ticking on the date of the malpractice. Instead, it begins on the date that the victim knew or should have known of the malpractice. That can be months or years after the negligent behavior.
Additionally, the state has a statute of repose, which can extend the deadline to three years. Evidence that the healthcare professionals tried to conceal the malpractice can also extend deadlines. Contacting a Bridgeport family medicine malpractice attorney as soon as possible can give you the best chance at a successful case.
Unraveling a medical malpractice claim can be exceptionally challenging. It can be hard to recognize when a healthcare professional is being negligent, which is why it is critical that you work with a legal professional who has years of experience in the field.
At Berkowitz Hanna, we have handled countless claims just like yours, and we are ready to fight for the compensation you deserve. If you suspect negligence, schedule a consultation with a Bridgeport family medicine malpractice lawyer. We can review your options and suggest ways to proceed with your claim.
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