What Steps Should I Take If I Suspect Medical Malpractice?

Scartelli Olszewski P.C.

As patients, we often put our lives in our medical providers’ hands — sometimes quite literally. Most doctors and nurses do their best to provide quality care, but mistakes happen. If you believe you were harmed by substandard medical care, what can you do about it?

In this post, the experienced medical malpractice lawyers at Scartelli Olszewski, P.C., discuss the steps you can take when you suspect medical malpractice.

What Is Medical Malpractice?

Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare provider fails to deliver proper medical care. To determine what constitutes “proper medical care,” courts evaluate whether other providers would have done the same thing in similar circumstances. If a doctor, nurse, or other medical professional deviates from their professional standard of care and a patient is harmed, they may be liable for malpractice.

What Are Common Types of Medical Malpractice?

Medical providers can make several errors that hurt patients, whether due to overwork, lack of preparation, or simple carelessness. The following are common types of medical malpractice:

Misdiagnosis, failure to diagnose, or delayed diagnosis
Surgical errors
Anesthesia errors
Medication mistakes
Birth injuries
Lack of informed consent
Impaired medical providers
Emergency room negligence
Hospital malpractice

Who Can Be Liable for Medical Malpractice?

While you may already know doctors can commit malpractice, other healthcare providers can, too. The following medical entities can face malpractice claims:

Physicians
Nurses
Physician assistants
Pharmacists
Dentists
Chiropractors
Therapists
Clinics
Hospitals
And more

What Should I Do If I Suspect Medical Malpractice?

If you were seriously hurt or lost a loved one from a medical mistake, you may qualify to file a malpractice claim. When you suspect medical malpractice, the following steps can help support your case:

Seek Medical Attention

If you suffered an injury during a procedure or are experiencing other complications, seek medical attention immediately. The doctor who treated you may be able to help solve your problem, sometimes free of charge. If you don’t feel comfortable going to the original healthcare office, you may visit someone else. A second opinion can often identify and correct medical mistakes.

Collect Documentation

If you end up filing a malpractice claim, you will need solid documentation to support your case. One of the first things you should do if you suspect medical malpractice is request a copy of your medical records. Medical providers must provide your records within 30 calendar days, cannot ask why you want them, and may not charge any fees to access them.

Request an Autopsy

If you suspect medical malpractice caused a family member’s death, request that an autopsy be performed. The institution where the death occurred may offer an autopsy. Otherwise, you can request a private one. The autopsy report can help explain and document the cause of death.

Contact an Attorney

Malpractice cases are some of the most challenging legal claims to pursue. They require an analysis of complex medical documentation and the opinions of expert witnesses. Hiring a medical malpractice lawyer could be invaluable to your case.

A malpractice attorney can evaluate the merits of your claim, help you gather evidence, hire medical consultants, and file the proper paperwork in court. They also have strong negotiation skills to go up against major malpractice insurance companies.

Need a Medical Malpractice Attorney in PA? Contact Us Today

If you suspect medical malpractice, Scartelli Olszewski, P.C., can help evaluate your options. Our knowledgeable Pennsylvania medical malpractice attorneys have experience representing seriously injured patients in state and federal court. We are proud to have recently achieved a malpractice jury verdict of $10 million. Call us today at (570) 346-2600 or contact us online to schedule a confidential consultation with our team.