What Can a Medical Malpractice Lawyer Do for Me?
Medical malpractice occurs when a physician or medical provider does not meet the expected standard of care. In 2022-2023, there were 1,150 incidences of malpractice reported in South Carolina, totaling $124.5 million in claim payments. A staggering figure that rightfully should cause concern for all patients.
If you have been the victim of a healthcare professional’s negligence, our South Carolina medical malpractice lawyers would like to speak with you regarding your case.
Examples of Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice can involve any of the following situations:
Wrong Site Surgery
A horrific mistake, a wrong site surgery can involve operating on the wrong knee or eye or even removing the wrong kidney.
Completely preventable, there are a number of reasons that can account for wrong-site surgery, including miscommunication, failure to mark the operation site, and inadequate patient assessment.
Foreign Objects Left Inside Patient
It is not unheard of for a surgeon to leave a foreign object in a patient’s body. A foreign object can include a sponge, forceps, or clamps. This can cause the patient pain, a fever, and even lead to infection.
In extreme cases, a foreign object that is left inside a body cavity can result in sepsis, a life-threatening condition that results in multiple system failures.
Medication Errors
There are over 100,000 reports each year of the wrong medication being dispensed, costing $40 billion annually.
Medication errors can include dispensing the wrong dose, quantity, or wrong drugs. 30-70% of the time, it is due to an individual not reading the prescription correctly.
Frequency and Effects of a Healthcare Provider’s Negligence
A recent study showed that more than 4,000 surgical errors take place in the United States each year. While some medical mistakes cannot be avoided, these surgical errors were labeled as “never events” since they were completely preventable and never should have taken place.
The study examined a 20-year period in which 9,744 claims were paid, costing over $1.3 billion. Of these claims, data revealed the following patient outcomes:
- 59.2% were temporarily injured
- 32.9% were permanently injured
- 6.6% died
Why Should I Hire a Medical Malpractice Lawyer?
Medical malpractice investigations are complicated, requiring that you have someone to gather the necessary information to prove a healthcare provider’s negligence. Even after negligence has been established, you will want someone to advocate for you on your behalf with the insurance company.
Having an experienced South Carolina medical malpractice lawyer on your side can help you to receive the compensation you deserve. A medical malpractice lawyer has the skills to negotiate with an insurance adjuster and will not accept an offer until it compensates you fairly.
Dedicated Medical Malpractice Lawyers Serving South Carolina
A medical error can leave you unable to take care of yourself, creating a burden on other family members. If you believe that you have a medical ailment that is the result of a physician’s poor judgment, our medical malpractice lawyers would like to hear from you. Contact Parham Smith & Archenhold, LLC online or by phone to schedule your free consultation.