When Doctors Cause Brain Injuries
When someone seeks the medical care and guidance provided by a physician, they take a tremendous leap of faith. They exercise trust in the fact that the doctor treating them, the medical facility where the doctor practices and the medical establishment as a whole will do right by them. Tragically, this is far too often not the case.
Several years ago, the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine released a research study concerning the rate of medical errors that occur annually in the U.S. The results of the study were staggering. The study concludes that medical errors are the third leading cause of death in America. As if that news isn’t horrifying enough, there are millions of additional medical errors occurring across the country each year—they “only” result in non-fatal injuries. Sometimes, the consequences of non-fatal medical errors can be catastrophic. They can lead to loss of mobility, cognitive impairment, chronic pain, and a host of other profound medical challenges. Among the most consequential effects of many non-fatal injurious scenarios involving physicians is brain injuries.
Accidents Happen and Physicians Can Be Held Accountable for Many of Them
As an experienced brain injury lawyer – including those who practice at the law firm of Barry P. Goldberg – can confirm, not all medical errors are legally actionable. Sometimes, accidents happen that are simply no one’s fault. A surgeon’s hand slips when a massive earthquake suddenly rocks a hospital’s foundation. A patient forgets to inform their anesthesiologist that they have newly discovered that they are allergic to a specific drug and that drug is administered. These are examples of non-actionable medical errors because the medical care providers in these situations were not negligent, reckless, or intentionally trying to harm anyone.
However, when a patient suffers a brain injury because a physician provides a substandard level of care, that victim is in a position to hold the offending doctor liable for their medical negligence. If you have recently suffered a brain injury and you either know or believe that your physician’s approach to your care contributed to the cause of your injury, it’s time to speak with an attorney about your options. Depending on the nature of your circumstances, you could be entitled to significant compensation.
You might not know whether you’re in a strong position to file a lawsuit or not. Speaking with an attorney can help to clarify your legal situation so that you can make informed choices moving forward.