Medical Malpractice Attorneys in Sumter, SC
If you have been injured by the mistake of a medical provider in Sumter, you may be able to bring a claim to seek compensation for your injury. Medical malpractice cases are often complex and difficult to prove. It is important to have skilled and experienced Sumter Medical Malpractice Lawyers on your side. At Strom Law Firm, we have experience representing malpractice victims, and we want to fight for you in the unfortunate circumstance that a doctor or medical staff has injured you.
The core principle of the practice of medicine states, “First, do no harm.” Despite this, negligent doctors frequently injure patients. The Civil Justice Resource Group estimates that 65,000 to 200,000 deaths occur due to medical mishaps every year. This means that medical malpractice victimizes the equivalent of one percent of all hospital patients.
Medical Malpractice Defined
Medical malpractice is defined by South Carolina statute as follows: “‘ Medical malpractice’ means doing that which the reasonably prudent health care provider or health care institution would not do, or not doing that which the reasonably prudent health care provider or health care institution would do in the same or similar circumstances.”
When undertaking medical treatment and procedures, medical providers must adhere to steps that a reasonably prudent provider would take or not take. Further, if your doctor happens to be a specialist in a particular field, that doctor should make judgments that a similarly situated specialist would make.
Medical Malpractice Examples
Medical providers fail to meet their relevant standards of care in different ways. At Strom Law Firm, we have seen various types of medical malpractice:
- Anesthesia errors. Too often, mistakes are made during the administration of anesthesia, and the consequences are devastating. Such a mistake by an anesthesiologist can cause significant brain damage and sometimes death. Some mistakes include failing to be properly informed of the patient’s medical needs or surgical history, as well as failure to properly monitor vital signs.
- Birthing injury. Both mother and child are sometimes victims of medical malpractice before, during, and after birth.
- Failure to diagnose. Sometimes, even with all the necessary information available, a doctor may fail to diagnose a serious injury or life-threatening disease. They may even make an incorrect diagnosis.
- Prescription mistakes. A provider may prescribe medicine that is harmful to the patient due to either the type of medication or the amount of medication.
- Surgical malpractice. Surgeons can cause damage to the body during a surgical procedure, and sometimes leave foreign objects in a patient’s body after surgery.
- Abandonment of care. Doctors have a duty to communicate with patients and see their care through.
- Failure to adequately describe the risks of certain treatments or procedures to a patient. Informed consent requires that the patient be informed and fully understand all potential outcomes.
All medical injuries are unique, and whether a medical provider has committed malpractice will depend on the individual facts of the case. You should contact a lawyer immediately if you believe you are a victim of medical malpractice.
How to Get Compensation for Your Medical Malpractice Injuries
South Carolina has taken steps to make claims more difficult for medical malpractice victims. Statutes have been passed to protect doctors and create additional hurdles that must be crossed before a lawsuit is even filed.
Prior to filing a medical malpractice lawsuit, a plaintiff must:
- File a Notice of Intent to file suit;
- Have an expert review their medical records and file an affidavit supporting a claim of malpractice; and
- Hold a mediation conference.
Then, and only then, may a malpractice lawsuit be filed.
Developing a Medical Malpractice Case
Medical malpractice cases are complex. They require expert witnesses to testify regarding information that is outside the realm of common knowledge. Strom Law Firm has relationships with numerous high quality and reliable expert witnesses throughout the state, and you can be sure your lawyer will select the right expert for your case in Sumter.
Medical facilities and providers can be stubborn about what information they are willing to turn over to a plaintiff. It is important to push for every relevant record available. It is also essential that you, as the plaintiff, preserve any potential evidence that may be in your possession. Evidence can come in many forms:
- Testimony from witnesses
- Documentation
- Expert reports
The Sumter Medical Malpractice Lawyers at the Strom Law Firm attorneys are experienced in developing medical malpractice cases and are ready to work hard towards recovering your compensation.
Contact a Sumter Medical Malpractice Lawyers Today
If you believe a medical provider has injured you in Sumter, South Carolina, Sumter County, or anywhere else in South Carolina, contact us. Visit us at our Columbia office, contact us online, or give us a call at 803-252-4800 to schedule a free, confidential, no-obligation consultation.
