Medical Negligence, Medical Malpractice Attorney in Philadelphia

All health care providers, including doctors, nurses, hospitals, and nursing homes, have a duty to provide the highest standard of care to their patients. But in cases of medical malpractice, or medical negligence, the health care provider fails to provide the appropriate care, resulting in serious injury and even death. Medical malpractice attorney Gerard Bernhardt represents victims of medical malpractice in Philadelphia and surrounding areas, ensuring they receive the compensation they need to move on with their lives.

What is Medical Malpractice?

Medical malpractice, also called medical negligence, occurs when a health care provider fails to provide adequate treatment for his or her patient, resulting in serious personal injury or death. In order to have a medical malpractice case in Philadelphia, you must prove that the health care provider did not follow the appropriate standard of care. In medical negligence cases, standard of care is defined as how a similarly qualified health care provider would have acted under the same or similar circumstances.

Medical malpractice can be the result of several things, including failing to diagnose or misdiagnosing a disease or medical condition, failing to provide the appropriate treatment, and delaying treatment or diagnosis of a medical condition. Examples of medical malpractice include birth injury, such as cerebral palsy, Erb’s palsy, brachial plexus, shoulder dystocia, and brain damage, failure to diagnose cancer, cancer misdiagnosis, and nursing home abuse or neglect.

If you believe that you or a loved one has suffered an injury due to medical negligence in Philadelphia or nearby areas, please contact medical malpractice attorney Gerard Bernhardt today.

What Must I Prove in a Medical Malpractice Case?

A patient who is injured by medical malpractice must prove four things in order to have a case:

• The health care provider owed a duty to provide reasonable care

• The health care provider violated his or her duty to provide reasonable care

• The health care provider’s violation of his or her duty caused personal injury to the patient

• The patient must prove that his or her injuries were caused by the health care provider’s negligence.

If you believe that you have a medical negligence case, it is imperative that you contact medical malpractice attorney Gerard Bernhardt in Philadelphia immediately. He can advise you of your rights and help you gather the essential evidence for your case.

What Kind of Damages Can I Receive For My Medical Malpractice Case?

Medical malpractice takes its toll - emotionally, physically, and financially. Families are often inundated with large medical bills that they cannot afford to pay, and some victims require long-term care. Damages in medical malpractice cases usually include medical bills, prescription costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering. In some cases, the victim may receive punitive damages, which are designed to punish the plaintiff for his or her negligence.

If you believe that you are entitled to damages for medical negligence in Philadelphia or surrounding areas, contact medical malpractice attorney Gerard Bernhardt today.

When Should I File My Medical Malpractice Case?

The statute of limitations for medical malpractice in Pennsylvania is two years. If you believe you have a medical malpractice case in Philadelphia or surrounding areas, it is imperative that you contact medical malpractice attorney Gerard Bernhardt immediately. We have the resources to develop your medical negligence case and, if necessary, to take your case to trial.

How Common is Medical Malpractice?

Unfortunately, medical malpractice occurs at an alarming rate. According to the Institute of Medicine (IOM) book, “To Err Is Human: Building a Safer Health System", at least 44,000 and perhaps as many as 98,000 Americans die in hospitals each year as a result of medical malpractice. Even when using the lower estimate, deaths due to medical negligence exceed the deaths attributable to motor vehicle accidents, breast cancer, and AIDS. The book, which was published in 2000, was based on two separate studies of hospitals in New York, Utah, and Colorado.

Medical malpractice can take several forms, from failure to diagnose cancer to birth injury, but no matter what form it takes, medical malpractice almost always leaves the victim and his or her family feeling overwhelmed and helpless. If you or a loved one is suffering as the result of a medical provider’s negligence, you deserve to be compensated for your injuries. Contact medical malpractice attorney Gerard Bernhardt in Philadelphia today.