Foley Attorney Skilled in Health Care Negligence Claims

When you turn to a health care provider, you expect reliable and competent treatment. Unfortunately, each year, many patients in Alabama and across the United States are injured due to medical errors. If you or someone you know was hurt due to the carelessness of a medical professional, you may be entitled to compensation. Whit A. Thomas is a skilled Foley medical malpractice lawyer who is committed to holding negligent health care providers accountable for the injuries that they cause. The guidance and representation of an injury attorney may be critical in asserting your rights.

Medical Malpractice Causes Serious Harm

One recent study found that medical malpractice is the third-leading cause of death in the United States, behind heart disease and cancer. According to the Journal of Patient Safety, between 210,000 and 440,000 patients who go to the hospital each year suffer some type of preventable harm that contributes to their death. The National Academy of Sciences reports that approximately 98,000 Americans die from medical errors on an annual basis. Medical malpractice statistics are difficult to compile, however, since so many instances of malpractice go undetected or unreported.

Holding a Health Care Provider Liable for Your Injuries

Medical malpractice can occur for a variety of reasons, including a misdiagnosis or failure to diagnose, emergency room errors, birth injuries, surgical mistakes, and medication errors. The Alabama Medical Liability Act (AMLA) governs medical malpractice claims in Alabama. The Act covers physicians, physician’s assistants, nurses, hospitals, pharmacists, and a number of other health care professionals.

Medical providers must adhere to a certain standard of care that is commonly accepted in the profession. Medical malpractice occurs when a health care provider fails to exercise the acceptable degree of care and skill that a professional in the same specialty would use under the same or similar circumstances. If a medical professional deviates from the standard of care and causes harm to a patient, that person or entity may be liable. For example, a physician likely would breach the duty of care owed to a patient by failing to examine the patient’s medical history or failing to order the right diagnostic exams.