Those who work in the medical profession are held to a much higher standard than almost any other class of professionals because of how great an impact a mistake can have on the lives of their patients. When medical professionals fail to uphold the standards of their field, it can easily cause a patient to suffer further harm or even result in their untimely death. Proceeding with a medical malpractice claim can be very complex and overwhelming, mainly due to the power of the parties you must deal with. That’s why the experienced Columbia medical malpractice lawyers of Goings Law Firm, LLC are here to help. Call us today at (803) 350-9230 to schedule a free consultation.
At the Goings Law Firm, LLC, we know that many people in Columbia suffer from the consequences of medical malpractice. This is whether they are victims of medical records or their loved ones. Medical malpractice can have devastating consequences for its victims, and substantial compensation may be necessary to help individuals in this position get their lives back together. Fortunately, medical malpractice law often allows victims to get the justice and financial assistance they need to deal with the consequences of a medical professional’s negligence.
Over the years, we have secured millions of dollars in compensation for our clients, and you can trust that we won’t stop fighting until you get the compensation you deserve. At Goings Law Firm, LLC, our Columbia medical malpractice attorneys are dedicated to fairness, honesty, hard work, dedication, justice, and service to others. If you or a loved one has been the victim of medical malpractice, contact Goings Law Firm, LLC today by calling us at (803) 350-9230. Fill out a contact form or start an online chat with a medical malpractice lawyer in Columbia now.
Medical Malpractice
While it has been proven that medical error has not been the third-leading cause of death in the United States for many years, medical malpractice is still a serious problem. Other than cancer and heart disease, some statistics regarding medical errors include the following:
- The 2023 World Health Organization (WHO) factsheet on patient safety states medication-related harm affects 1 out of every 30 patients in health care. More than a quarter of this harm is regarded as severe or life-threatening.
- More than 3 million deaths occur annually due to unsafe care, according to the 2024 WHO global patient safety report.
- The most common type of claim was for a technical error in treatment, followed by errors related to diagnosis and errors in therapy, treatment, and invasive procedures.
Unfortunately, medical errors occur quite frequently and under various circumstances. Often, these errors have devastating consequences for the victim and their family. If you or a loved one has been the victim of medical malpractice in error, contact Goings Law Firm, LLC at (803) 350-9230 to discuss whether you have a medical malpractice claim.
Types of Medical Malpractice Claims
There are many different ways in which a doctor’s errors can negatively impact patients’ lives. Some of the most common, however, include:
Wrong Diagnosis
A wrong diagnosis can lead to a patient being treated for the wrong ailment. This creates new health issues, potentially making the initial illness worse. In the worst cases, misdiagnosis may lead to death.
Delayed Treatment
When treatment is delayed, an illness can spread or worsen, causing greater harm to the patient.
Improper Treatment
Improper treatment occurs when a healthcare provider correctly identifies the patient’s illness or issue but follows a course of treatment that does not follow the standard of care for patients suffering from that ailment.
Lack of Informed Consent
For any tests or procedures to be done, a patient must give informed consent. This means that the patient is told, in proper detail, the benefits and risks of the tests or procedures. Before consenting, the patient must be informed of enough information to satisfy what any patient would reasonably want to know.
Surgical Errors
In order for a surgical error to be considered malpractice, the surgeon must have deviated from the standard of care, and the error must have caused damage or harmed the patient.
Emergency Room Errors
When medical providers commit errors in the emergency room, they are generally granted a little more leeway. This is because of the hectic nature of the environment. However, this does not mean they cannot be liable for their error. If it is shown that the error was outside of the standard of care or that the error harmed or injured the patient, they can’t be liable.
Pharmaceutical Errors
A medical provider may be liable for medical malpractice if the error causes harm or injuries to the patient. Multiple errors fall under this category, including:
- Administration of the wrong medication
- Administration of the wrong dose of medication
- Mislabeling the medication
- Prescribing a medication to which the patient is allergic
- Falling to warn the patient of the side effects of the medication
- Prescribing medication that reacts badly with other medications the patient is taking
Wrongful Death
If a patient dies due to medical error, the patient’s estate may hold the responsible medical provider liable. The estate can sue under estate law that would have been available to the patient had they not died.
Hospital Negligence
Some of the most common ways for a hospital to be responsible for medical malpractice are:
- If its employed doctors, nurses, or other medical staff were negligent
- If the hospital was negligent in hiring and supervising employees
- If the hospital failed to maintain and repair equipment
- If the hospital was negligent in managing care at its facility
Failure to Treat When Necessary
Regardless of a patient’s ability to pay, certain medical providers must perform certain procedures. Failure to perform a necessary procedure that harms the patient can amount to medical malpractice.
When you or a loved one suffers from these types and consequences of medical negligence and malpractice, filing a medical malpractice lawsuit is likely the only way to get the closure and financial compensation you need.
Who Can Be Held Liable?
When a victim has suffered due to medical error, they claim that the medical provider acted negligently. This is due to deviating from the recognized standard of care for similarly situated patients. The recognized standard of care refers to how a reasonably prudent medical provider would have treated an equally situated patient in the same or similar circumstances.
To prove a medical malpractice claim, the party must show that the other party had a duty to prevent foreseeable harm. They must also show that they failed in their duty, thereby causing damages. Healthcare providers also have a duty to their patients not to cause harm.
Like many other states, South Carolina limits the amount of compensation a victim of medical malpractice can collect. However, in South Carolina, a victim of medical malpractice may also be entitled to punitive damages. This only applies when the court finds that the healthcare provider acted intentionally or maliciously to cause harm.
Medical malpractice claims are complex. The defendant health care provider will undoubtedly have ample legal representation, but you need help. If you or a loved one has been a medical malpractice case victim, contact a Columbia medical malpractice lawyer at Goings Law Firm, LLC to learn more about your legal options.
Get Help from a Medical Malpractice Attorney in Columbia
If you have been injured due to medical malpractice, you don’t have to deal with the consequences alone. The Goings Law Firm, LLC team is ready to listen to you, investigate your claim, and help you hold the negligent parties accountable for what happened to you. Schedule a free, 100% confidential consultation with our team today by calling us at (803) 350-9230, chatting live on our website, or filling out a contact form. A Columbia medical malpractice lawyer can help you get the compensation you deserve.
