
Medical Malpractice Lawyers Indianapolis, IN
Since this page was posted, Indiana lawmakers have enacted changes in Indiana’s Medical Malpractice Law. To learn more about changes that benefit Indiana’s residents, visit our blog, 2016 Update on Indiana’s Medical Malpractice Act.Take Action When Medical Professionals Fail to Provide Proper Care
When you seek care at a hospital, clinic or other medical facility, you expect medical professionals to provide you with the proper care to help you recover. That does not always happen, and if you or a loved one has suffered due to medical malpractice, speak with the skilled medical malpractice lawyers in Indianapolis right away. At Ward & Ward, we have years of experience in medical malpractice law and are ready to help you seek compensation for your injuries or medical conditions.Dealing with a Medical Malpractice Issue
The emotional, mental and physical impact of medical malpractice can be devastating to you or a loved one, yet the Indiana Medical Malpractice Act places a cap on malpractice claims in an effort to keep insurance rates low. This law also includes the following stipulations:- With few exceptions, medical malpractice claims must be filed within two years from the alleged act.
- The law does not require physicians to have malpractice insurance, but they must have it to qualify for the capped liability law.
- Patients must file their complaint with the Indiana Department of Insurance and have their cases reviewed before they can sue. This panel determines if the case will go to court.
Recovering from Errors, Injuries and Neglect
Since 2006, the Indiana State Department of Health has used a robust medical error reporting system to track and record mistakes occurring in the field of medicine to study current practices and find out if there are ways to improve the level of care provided to patients. If you need to move forward with a medical malpractice lawsuit, state law mandates that the total compensation provided through the final claim cannot exceed $1.25 million. The result of your case may depend on the specific medical professional who made the mistake and the person’s history, per the Indiana database. See Charlie Ward’s blog explaining Medical Malpractice Tort Reform in Indiana.Other Important Medical Malpractice Issues
Birth injuries are another major form of medical malpractice. The most common types of birth-related injuries and resulting illnesses include the following:- Cerebral palsy caused by lack of oxygen
- Bleeding in the brain
- Sprains, strains and fractures
- Head and spine injuries
What Happens When a Patient Is Discharged from the Hospital Too Soon?
Most people who end up in the hospital usually cannot wait to get home. After all, when you do not feel well, you just want to be in your home, in your own bed. But when a person is hospitalized, it is usually because they are very sick and need treatment or have had surgery and need to recover. These patients need to be monitored by medical professionals to make sure there are no medical complications that arise as they are being treated. Experienced medical malpractice lawyers know that one major issue today is that far too many patients are discharged from the hospital too soon. There are several reasons why this happens. In many facilities, there are serious issues with understaffing and overcrowding. This leads to a lower standard of care than a better run facility. These issues not only lead to discharging patients too soon but can also affect where emergency vehicles are forced to bring trauma victims. It is not uncommon for EMTs to have to bypass these facilities to ones that are further away. This delay in treatment can put a victim’s life at stake. Staffing and too many patients are not the only reasons why patients are sent home too early. This can also happen because medical staff make a mistake or are negligent in their discharging of the patient. Many of these patients end up being readmitted because their conditions worsen, or they develop medical complications. Examples of this can include:- An infant who is discharged before testing has been completed to determine if the baby has suffered a birth injury or an infection.
- An adult who has undergone a procedure and is released before full monitoring or testing has been completed.
- The physician owed a duty of care to the patient.
- That duty of care was breached.
- That breach was resulted directly by the actions, behavior, or conduct of the physician.
- The patient suffered harm as a result.
Speak with a Compassionate Indianapolis Medical Malpractice Lawyer
These can be complex cases to prove and require the legal skill and knowledge of a seasoned medical malpractice attorney. If you believe you suffered injury or illness because you were discharged too early, don’t wait to speak with a knowledgeable and attentive attorney after medical malpractice impacts you and your family. Contact Ward & Ward Law Firm to find out what your legal options may be. Call our office today to set up a free case evaluation with one of our medical malpractice lawyers Indianapolis, IN clients recommend. Our Indianapolis, IN office is open during normal business hours, but we’re also available 24/7 if you need us.Medical Malpractice Lawyers Indianapolis, IN Can Trust
Indianapolis, IN medical malpractice lawyers understand there is an incredible amount of trust that is required to put your life in the hands of any medical professional. When that trust is violated and you sustain an injury as a result of negligence, you deserve to be compensated. Ward & Ward Law Firm is prepared to help you through this incredibly difficult process. Our medical malpractice lawyers Indianapolis, IN understand the emotional and physical toll that such an ordeal can have on an individual. In our many years of experience we have learned it is imperative to support our clients while holding negligent medical professionals responsible. The team at Ward & Ward Law Firm has extensive knowledge in medical terminology and the process that medical malpractice claims must endure. Ward & Ward Law Firm has put together some basic information to help you understand the legal requirements for a medical malpractice claim. Contact us for a consultation. A medical malpractice claim does not just refer to surgical errors. Negligent treatment can occur in the many stages of medical care. The following list encompasses some possible errors from diagnosis to aftercare. While not complete, this list includes the most common medical malpractice circumstances.- Diagnostic errors
- Medication errors
- Failure to order or incorrect interpretation of lab results
- Early discharge
- Childbirth complications
- Failure to conduct a complete history on the patient
- Unnecessary surgery
- Surgery on the wrong patient
- Surgery on the wrong body part
- Incompetent follow-up care
- Disregarding symptoms
- Anesthesia errors
- A relationship between the medical professional and the patient must exist.
- The medical professional was negligent and violated the standard of care - the standard is the benchmark of professional treatment of the patient. Ward & Ward Law Firm will find an appropriate medical witness to explain the standard and how it was not honored.
- An injury must have been sustained.
- There must be a direct link between the violation of the standard of care and the injury that occurred.
- Physical pain
- Mental and emotional distress
- Additional medical bills
- Lost wages and earning potential
Client Review
"Charlie and his team are great! I've worked with him a few times and every time I needed legal help Charlie was there. Charlie will keep in touch and to make sure everything is still going ok and will even follow up with you once your case is complete! Highly recommend this law office"
Britney R.