Cambridge Medical Malpractice Lawyer
Every year, unsuspecting patients suffer medical injuries due to the malpractice of their health care provider. In some cases, these injuries are immediately obvious. However, other errors only become apparent over time. In either case, you have the right to see monetary compensation when you sustain an injury due to malpractice.
A skilled Cambridge medical malpractice attorney could do the heavy lifting in moving your malpractice claim forward. From thoroughly investigating your case to pushing it towards trial, your attorney could limit delays and resolve your claim as quickly as possible. a Cambridge medical malpractice lawyer could advise you on what to expect from the litigation process. Call our lawyers today at (617) 925-6407.
Types of Medical Malpractice Claims in Cambridge
There are many types of medical injuries. Each act of malpractice falls into five broad categories. These categories include:
- Misdiagnosis
- Delayed diagnosis
- Birth injuries
- Surgical injuries
- Delayed treatment
Misdiagnosis
The failure to properly identify the injury or illness affecting a patient is known as misdiagnosis. Misdiagnosis can occur when a doctor fails to identify anything wrong with a patient. Likewise, this type of malpractice can also involve a doctor identifying the wrong illness.
Delayed Diagnosis
When it comes to the most serious medical conditions, there is no time to waste. When a medical professional takes an unreasonably long time to diagnose an illness, it could be too late for a patient to obtain the necessary treatment. Whether the length of a delay is reasonable or not is subjective, and is best answered by a Cambridge medical malpractice lawyer.
Birth Injuries
Medical injuries during labor and delivery can devastate an entire family. In addition to the risk posed to the mother, unborn children could also suffer the consequences of a medical mistake. Many forms of malpractice occur during labor and delivery, but some birth injuries can trace back to errors made earlier in the pregnancy.
Surgical Errors
Medical mistakes made during surgical procedures are often the most severe form of malpractice. Due to the vulnerability of an incapacitated patient, a surgical error could lead to permanent consequences or even death.
Delayed Treatment
In some cases, a patient will receive the correct diagnosis in a timely manner only to experience a delay in treatment. These delays could occur due to the carelessness of the doctor or filing errors made by the hospital staff.
Tribunal Review Process in Cambridge Medical Malpractice Claims
There are additional requirements for plaintiffs in a medical malpractice lawsuit that do not apply to any other type of claim. The most important of these requirements is the tribunal review process. According to Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 231 Section 60B, a Cambridge medical malpractice attorney must present an “offer of proof” within 15 days of the defendant’s answer to the lawsuit. This offer of proof must be made to a 3-person tribunal made up of
- A Massachusetts superior court justice
- A licensed physician in the same field as the defendant
- A licensed Massachusetts attorney
The offer of proof provides the tribunal with medical records, expert opinions, and test results, among other evidence. For the claim to proceed, the tribunal must determine there is a “legitimate question” of whether the defendant was negligent.
Reach out to a Cambridge Medical Malpractice Attorney Immediately
Dealing with the fallout of a medical mistake can be overwhelming. When the medical professional you placed your trust in makes an inexcusable mistake, you are the one who pays for it.
To ensure you are not forced to foot the bill for your doctor’s error, contact a Boston medical malpractice lawyer immediately. Your attorney can assist with every step of the process, including filing your lawsuit and presenting the offer of proof to the tribunal. Call our Cambridge personal injury lawyer today at (617) 925-6407.
