Medical Malpractice
Welcome to the
Epperly & Follis, P.C., Medical Malpractice webpage.
We are a law firm concentrating in catastrophic personal
injury cases against major defendants such as nursing
homes, hospitals, insurance companies, product
manufacturers, corporations and municipalities. Our firm
does not approach its cases as mere jobs, but as causes in
which larger issues are at stake - causes in which our
firm's lawyers invest personal dedication to see that
justice is done.Are you one of the many
people who have been injured, misdiagnosed, suffered
physical or emotional distress, or have lost a loved one
because of a medical mistake? Epperly & Follis, P.C
has provided this page to help inform you of your rights
and the legal recourse that may be available to you. We
feel that information and education can help injured
victims take action against those who have damaged their
lives.
"First of All, to
Do No Harm…"
It is common knowledge that
when physicians enter the medical profession, they take an
oath that in part promises to "never intentionally do
harm". Unfortunately, some doctors do cause harm
through their mistakes, ignorance, negligence, lack of
skill and misdiagnosis. Medical malpractice is the result
of a health care provider's failure to provide the
expected standard of care.
The medical profession
brings health and hope to millions of Americans every day,
however far too many are injured or killed due to medical
mistakes. In November 1999, the Institute of Medicine
(IOM) released a report estimating that as many as 98,000
patients die each year as a result of medical errors in
hospitals. Compound this number with the unreported
mistakes made in other healthcare settings (physicians'
offices, urgent care centers, nursing homes, pharmacies
and home care) and the magnitude of medical malpractice
becomes staggering. In addition to the high costs of
medical mistakes in terms of lives and quality of life,
our nation pays an estimated $17 billion per year in costs
due to preventable errors.
In legal terms, healthcare
professionals are only required to give a standard of care
that is ordinary or normal. When a physician is determined
to be negligent, it means that he or she has failed to use
the same degree of skill and learning, under the same or
similar circumstances, that are used by other members of
the medical profession. Some of the most common ways that
medical malpractice occurs is through failure or errors in
timely diagnosis and ordering appropriate treatment,
ordering necessary tests and proper medication, consulting
with specialists, and surgical procedures.
The Harm That is Done
Medicine is a complicated
and varied field, so it is impossible to provide a
comprehensive list all of the types of malpractice claims.
However, the leading types of malpractice claims include:
Restitution for Harm
If your attorney is able to
prove your medical malpractice case and the medical
provider is found negligent, then you are entitled to
recover "damages." Damages are intended to help
you return to the condition you were in prior to the
injury. There are several forms of damages that you may
recover in a medical malpractice award - economic (for
lost wages or medical expenses), non-economic (for pain
and suffering), or punitive (to punish reckless behavior)
damages. You may also receive compensation for future
medical expenses and loss of future earnings. Punitive
damages occur only in rare cases when it is proved that
the medical practitioner had malicious intent.
Medical malpractice claims
are one of the most difficult areas of litigation, since
the negligent action must be documented and proven within
specific guidelines. The experienced medical litigation
attorneys of Epperly & Follis, P.C can help prepare
your medical personal injury claim, wrongful death suit
and any other lawsuit where a healthcare practitioner may
have caused you harm.
Time is of the Essence
If you suspect that you are
a victim of malpractice, time is of the essence. Consult
one of our medical malpractice lawyers immediately to
discuss your case and make an important step in taking
control of your situation. At Epperly & Follis, P.C,
we do not approach our cases as mere jobs, but as causes
in which larger issues are at stake - causes in which our
firm's lawyers invest personal dedication to see that
justice is done.
Our skilled team of lawyers
knows the law, the legal process and victim's rights. We
can help you make informed decisions, so please call
Epperly & Follis, P.C today at 1-888-703-0109 or
(804) 648-6480, or
contact us via
our online Contact Form.
Medical Malpractice News
Medical malpractice rates on holdBizjournals.com, NC - Jul 1, 2008The New York State Insurance Department has postponed the setting of new medical malpractice insurance rates, originally scheduled for July 1. ... |
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