You put your trust in others each and every day. When you send your kindergartner off to the bus stop, you trust that the bus driver will safely take your kindergartener to and from Danforth Elementary. When you’re purchasing your lunch downtown at the Culinaria, you trust that the food you will be eating has been made properly and will not make you sick.
We trust one another because it is impossible to survive without being dependent on other people. We can’t be a bus driver, an accountant, a physical therapist, a parent, and a butcher; we need to trust that other people are doing their jobs just like we are.
But when you or your loved one has been a victim of medical malpractice, trusting one another is easier said than done. Medical malpractice, or medical negligence, is when a healthcare provider fails to use that degree of skill and learning to treat a patient in the same or similar way another similar healthcare provider would. And this negligence caused someone to be further injured, ill, or die. Just like you trust the bus driver and the butcher, you trust your doctors, nurses, surgeons, anesthesiologists, and other healthcare professionals to use their expertise to the best of their abilities, keeping you or your loved ones safe and sound.
If a surgery goes awry or you experience an unexpected outcome, such as a worsening condition, delayed recovery, or permanent disability, this doesn’t necessarily mean that negligence was a factor. A bad outcome isn’t the deciding factor. You have a claim for medical malpractice if the health provider’s violation of the standard of care directly caused or directly contributed to cause the ailment, injury, or damage.
Medical Malpractice is the third leading cause of death in the United States, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association.
When you’re sick and in the hospital, it is already an emotional time. The future is uncertain and your health is touch and go. Everything feels out of your control. It is the knowledge that hospital professionals, from the doctors to the nurses, will be there to treat, help, and be honest with you in every way they can that keeps you from feeling the true weight of your worries. It is their reassurance and their answers that make you think it will be all right.
You went to the hospital to regain health, but the opposite has happened. Being a victim of medical malpractice can be one of the most confusing times. With doctors speaking in one ear and your family members speaking in another, you feel unsure of who is giving you correct information. And with piles and piles of medical bills to pay, you are overwhelmed. It feels like the odds are stacked against you. Do I trust the doctor’s words, even though I suspect it was their negligence that caused me this pain? Do I confide in hospital support staff? How do I know if this is just a bad outcome or bad luck versus bad treatment? Do I need a lawyer?
Amidst all of this confusion, you are recovering. You’re in the process of healing and trying to return to your job, your family, and your daily life. And healing is all that you have time for.
As a St. Louis, Missouri law firm with experience helping people through the trauma of medical malpractice, we know how disconcerting of a time this truly is. It’s hard to see past the bills, the emotions, and your injury to understand how to regain control over your present and future. But there’s a light at the end of the tunnel, and it is our job to help you see it.
How Do I Know if I’m a Victim of Medical Malpractice?
Some signs of medical negligence are more obvious than others. Unfortunately, one of the most common signals that medical malpractice could have occurred is death of a patient. If your loved one has died during a surgery, whether it was a dangerous procedure or not, medical error could have been a factor in that fatal event. Misdiagnoses, failures to treat, and failures to diagnose can also result in death.
Medical errors occur frequently, but if they do not result in injury or death, you do not have a claim for medical malpractice. Sometimes a health provider may admit that an error occurred or point out that it happened with a previous caregiver. In the hope of avoiding litigation and medical malpractice claims, some healthcare providers offer an apology and explanation.
Maybe you just have a gut instinct that medical malpractice was a factor. Regardless of the sign, if you have a suspicion that medical negligence was a factor in your injury or the death of a loved one, it is worth investigating and getting answers.
How can a St. Louis, MO Medical Malpractice Attorney Help Me?
A St. Louis, Missouri medical malpractice attorney will thoroughly investigate all aspects of your medical history. Especially in Missouri, these are very complex and difficult claims. Because of the complexity, you want to be sure that your representation has experience and past successes with cases like yours. The lawyer you choose should be able to take your case all the way from your initial call through trial. Because of the time limitations associated with medical negligence claims, you must act with urgency.
At Schlapprizzi Attorneys at Law, we are known for our prolific success in helping people through medical malpractice claims in St. Louis, Missouri. More than success, though, we are known for our passionate approach, continually fighting for individuals and families who have been affected by this traumatic experience. We want to do more than seek compensation for you; we want to help you put the piece of your life back together as best we can..
As St. Louis medical malpractice trial attorneys, we devote our time and energy to advocating for people who have been severely affected by medical malpractice. If your family has recently fallen victim and are amidst this tragic situation, feel free to contact our office. We want to give you answers, help you receive compensation and begin again with the peace that you sought out the truth about what happened.