Healthcare professionals take an oath to help those in need and provide a standard duty of care to their patients. Unfortunately, not all medical professionals abide by that oath. Physicians may act negligently in providing a patient with proper medical care resulting in significant injuries and fatalities. If you have been harmed by a negligent physician, don’t hesitate to reach out to one of our experienced Washington D.C. Medical Malpractice Lawyers who can help you get your life back on track. Our firm is committed to helping our clients recover reasonable monetary damages for their losses.
What are common acts of medical malpractice in D.C.?
Healthcare professionals owe their patients a standard duty of care. If they misdiagnose a medical condition or fail to treat a medical condition properly, the physician can be held liable for damages. Injured individuals may experience physical and mental trauma due to the negligent acts of a healthcare professional. Significant injuries can negatively alter and impact an individual’s life. There are several acts of negligence that can cause serious harm to patients. Some of the most common medical errors include:
- Misdiagnoses
- Surgical errors
- Failure to treat
- Birth injuries
- Medication errors
- Anesthesia errors
- Emergency room errors
- Healthcare-associated infections
- Defective medical devices
- Lack of informed consent
How can victims fulfill the burden of proof for medical malpractice in D.C.?
In D.C., victims of medical malpractice can fulfill the burden of proof in various ways. However, satisfying the burden of proof in medical malpractice claims is challenging. To pursue legal action and potentially recover monetary damages victims must prove:
- They were the physician’s patient
- Their physician owed them a duty of care
- Their physician breached that duty of care
- Their physician’s breach of duty of care directly caused their injuries
Ultimately, victims must prove that another doctor would have otherwise acted reasonably and would have provided quality services that maintained a standard duty of care. If a victim can prove the above, they may be entitled to recovering economic and non-economic damages for their injuries. However, certain states limit the amount of money a victim can recover in medical malpractice claims. D.C. does not cap the amount of financial compensation an injured individual can obtain. Victims have three years from the date the injuries were sustained to file a claim against negligent parties. If they fail to meet the deadline, they will be barred from ever filing a claim in the future.
If you or someone you love has been injured due to medical negligence, reach out to one of our qualified and determined lawyers. Our firm has years of experience working with medical malpractice victims. Our team members are dedicated to helping our clients reach favorable results.