Medical malpractice claims are not always limited to instances during treatment or surgery and may, as one young patient argued, include failures that occur afterward or post-operatively. Justin Thomas, an eighteen-year-old, aspiring armed serviceman, underwent a right shoulder arthroscopy at Lafayette Surgicare to repair his repeated rotator cuff dislocations. The…
Articles Posted in Medical Malpractice
Medical Deaths Aren’t Always Medical Malpractice
When a patient suffers from harm done to them by the negligence of a health care provider, he may be a victim of medical malpractice. A recent Louisiana Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals case explained why it is not always a case of medical malpractice when an avoidable medical death…
When Do I Need Expert Testimony for a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit?
In the event that you find yourself in the challenging position of pursuing a medical malpractice lawsuit against your doctor, the presence of an expert witness becomes paramount. Such a witness is instrumental in establishing the negligence of your treating physician. A recent case originating from the Parish of East…
Experts Testify in Neurosurgery Medical Malpractice Claim
Medical malpractice claims are brought when a patient is a victim of negligence at the hands of their physician. Due to the nature of this category of claims, stories of medical malpractice are often horror stories showcasing worst-case scenarios. Even further, the most intense medical malpractice claims result in the…
Mistake, Medical Malpractice, or Misunderstanding Risk?
While much maligned in the popular consciousness, medical malpractice lawsuits serve a vital function in protecting patients’ rights when accessing healthcare. In Louisiana, a successful medical malpractice lawsuit must show the physician being sued had a standard of care for their patient, the physician violated this standard of care, and…
Underlying Medical Conditions, Can You Claim Res Ipsa Loquitur in a Lawsuit?
You think that when you’re being taken care of by hospital personnel, you are in safe hands and do not have to fear for your safety. However, if you are injured when being moved from a hospital cart to your bed, can you claim negligence based on res ipsa loquitur?…
What kind of Evidence is Needed to Prove Future Medical Benefits in a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit?
After a medical malpractice-induced injury, patients may need significant awards of damages to cover the expenses of a resulting disability. A case in Shreveport shows how to present substantial evidence of an ongoing need for care. It also helps answer the question; What kind of Evidence is Needed to Prove…
Louisiana Medical Malpractice Lawsuit by Dental Patient Fails at Appeals Court
Appeals from trial court decisions can be costly, especially if the result is again not decided in your favor. Tara Lorraine (“Ms. Lorraine”), a dental patient at Bluebonnet Dental Care, L.L.C., learned this the hard way after appealing a jury verdict decided against her. The Louisiana Court of Appeals for…
What If You’re Unable to Pay a Bond Required by Law?
Filing a medical malpractice lawsuit in Louisiana requires the plaintiff to pay a bond before the medical review panel is conducted. But what do you do when you cannot pay the bond? Is there a way to still proceed with your case? The following medical malpractice lawsuit out of Jefferson…
Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Tossed Due to Louisiana’s Prescriptive Period
A man is in the hands of a facility tasked with providing sufficient medical care. Instead of meeting this standard of care and due diligence, the facility fails to adjust the man’s diet, and he chokes on solid food that he should not eat, leading to his death. When his…