Medical Malpractice Lawyer in Scranton, PA
It’s hard to imagine a time when anyone feels more vulnerable than when they’re sick or injured and require professional medical help. In such instances, a person has little choice but to put their safety in someone else’s hands.
Unfortunately, a patient’s trust isn’t always rewarded. Sometimes the people we depend on the most to take care of us act irresponsibly, resulting in undue pain and suffering. When that happens, you need a medical malpractice lawyer who is ready, willing, and able to provide the support you need and get you the compensation you deserve.
With a wealth of experience, knowledge, and compassion for all our clients, Selingo Guagliardo’s medical malpractice lawyers in Scranton, PA, are fully equipped to help you during this trying time. Let us help you go forward and reclaim your life.
The Most Common Kinds of Malpractice Claims
One of the most common questions our Scranton medical malpractice lawyers get is “What even is medical malpractice?” Well, in the state of Pennsylvania, medical malpractice is defined as “the unwarranted departure from generally accepted standards of medical practice resulting in injury to a patient, including all liability-producing conduct arising from the rendition of professional medical services.”
To put that more simply, medical malpractice is when a healthcare professional acts improperly or negligently when treating a patient, deviating from normal standards of care and causing harm to the patient in the process. Examples of medical malpractice include things like discharging a patient from the hospital before they have adequately healed or failing to check a patient’s medical record for potential drug interactions or allergies.
Below, we’ll explain some of the most common kinds of malpractice claims in the state of Pennsylvania. If you need the help of a medical malpractice lawyer in Scranton, or in any of the other locations we serve, don’t wait; contact Selingo Guagliardo today.
MISDIAGNOSIS
A patient getting the treatment they need relies first and foremost on the ability of healthcare professionals to accurately identify the cause of their symptoms. Without the right diagnosis, it’s almost impossible for a patient to be treated properly.
An estimated 12 million people are diagnosed incorrectly every year, with misdiagnosis accounting for roughly one-third of all malpractice claims. This can result in delayed and inadequate treatment, unnecessary surgery and invasive testing, extended and expensive hospitalization, or even death.
PRESCRIPTION ERRORS
For every medical condition that a patient might suffer from, there are often dozens or even hundreds of different prescription drug options, each with its own set of side effects and medicine interactions. When a healthcare professional fails to take these things into consideration, the results can vary widely, including everything from mild allergic reactions to permanent disability or even death.
Typical instances of prescription error include doctors prescribing the wrong dosage and pharmacists fulfilling a prescription incorrectly. Other issues include medical professionals failing to recognize signs of drug allergies, addictions, or overdoses.
SURGICAL ERRORS
Going under the knife is never easy, but most of us take solace in knowing that our health will likely improve after surgery. There are, however, a number of things that can go wrong during a surgical procedure and, while some of those things are impossible to predict, others only occur due to medical professionals acting carelessly.
Among the most alarming incidents, some patients have returned from surgery shocked to discover that their doctor performed the wrong procedure or operated on the wrong body part. Just as seriously, others have experienced discomfort, infection, and other complications due to surgeons accidentally leaving gauze or other instruments inside the body.
CHILDBIRTH INJURIES
More medical malpractice claims are filed against OBGYNs than against any other kind of doctor, with a majority of such claims related to injuries suffered by a mother or an infant during childbirth. Newborn babies are incredibly fragile and require delicate handling.
When healthcare professionals act negligently during childbirth, it can have serious consequences for the child, such as a life-long disability or even loss of life. The health of the mother can also be adversely affected, with infections and postpartum hemorrhage both capable of causing maternal death following delivery.
Our Scranton Medical Malpractice Lawyers Can Help You
Being sick or injured is never easy. The last thing you need is for that experience to be made even more difficult, either by receiving improper treatment or being forced to deal with an insurance coverage dispute. Fortunately, when you need someone by your side, Selingo Guagliardo is here to help.
If you or a loved one has been harmed due to the negligence of a doctor, nurse, or another healthcare professional, our Scranton medical malpractice attorneys believe you deserve better. You deserve someone who will stand up for your rights and get you the compensation you need to go forward in life. You deserve Selingo Guagliardo.
When you need a medical malpractice lawyer in Scranton, PA, Selingo Guagliardo has the knowledge and experience necessary to help you. Contact us today for a free consultation!