Every day, countless sick and injured patients rush to their local hospitals and health clinics because they need urgent medical attention. However, once they check in at the front desk, they suddenly become just another number in a crowded hospital waiting room. Oftentimes, hospitals are so understaffed that overwhelmed medical professionals are pressured to cycle through these patients as quickly as possible. As a result, surgeons, doctors, and nurses are simply incapable of providing each patient with the undivided consideration and attention that their individual circumstances deserve. This often leads to preventable medical complications, unfortunate injuries, and tragic fatalities. Per Kentucky law, a negligent medical professional can be held legally responsible for committing a detrimental medical error, significantly injuring a patient, or contributing to a patient’s death.
Identifying Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice occurs when a patient is injured by the actions, inactions, or omissions of a negligent medical professional. If you’ve sustained injuries while seeking medical treatment, you may be able to file a medical malpractice claim and obtain compensation for your past and future medical expenses, lost wages, and any non-economic damages determined by the court.
Examples of medical malpractice include, but are not limited to:
- Misdiagnosis
- Delayed diagnosis
- Pharmaceutical errors
- Surgery performed on the wrong body part
- Surgery performed on the wrong patient
- Anesthesia injuries
- Directly injuring a patient with equipment or a surgical tool
- Patient injury or disability due to contaminated surgical devices
- Transfusion of incompatible organs
- Post-surgical infections
- Erb’s Palsy
- Lack of informed consent
- Failure to treat a condition
To secure damages, your attorney must first prove to the court that the negligent medical professional breached the standard of care and is ultimately responsible for your injuries. Your legal representative can obtain the necessary evidence by reviewing your medical report, consulting with medical experts, and investigating the practitioner’s career history.
The Statute of Limitations
In Kentucky, a plaintiff has only 1 year to file their medical malpractice claim. This countdown generally starts ticking on the date the incident occurred. Once the statute of limitations runs its course, you may not be able to file a claim against the negligent party. In fact, the court may even refuse to hear your case entirely. However, there are certain exceptions to the statute of limitations that you can discuss with an experienced attorney.
Need Guidance? Contact Our Experienced Medical Malpractice Attorney
If you’ve been injured by the negligent actions of a medical professional, contact the Lexington medical malpractice lawyers at Goeing, Goeing & McQuinn PLLC. Our legal team can review your case and help you explore your legal options. We can even zealously litigate in court on your behalf to help you secure compensation.
Contact Goeing, Goeing & McQuinn PLLC at (859) 253-0088 to schedule a consultation.