Washington, D.C., and Boston, Massachusetts Medical Malpractice Law
When a medical professional makes a negligent error that causes a patient harm, medical malpractice has occurred. Common forms of medical malpractice in Washington, D.C., and Massachusetts include failure to diagnose a condition properly, birth injury, prescribing the incorrect medication, and many other negligent errors. Medical bills and other costs can overwhelm victims and their families.
Medical malpractice issues in Washington, D.C., and Massachusetts, such as failure to diagnose and birth injury, require experienced lawyers. An attorney at Pollack & Flanders can help you seek damages. Our firm has a long history of successfully fighting for victims’ compensation in these cases.
If you or a family member has been the victim of medical malpractice in Washington, D.C., or Boston , Massachusetts , the lawyers at our medical malpractice law firm can help you receive the compensation you need. Below you will find information about the most common areas of medical malpractice. The attorneys at Pollack & Flanders are always available to answer any questions you may have regarding medical malpractice or any area of litigation. Contact Pollack & Flanders, and put the law to work for you.
- Failure to Diagnose
- Birth Injury
- Cerebral Palsy
- Erb's Palsy
- Shoulder Dystocia
- Surgical Injury
- Hospital Negligence
- Cancer Misdiagnosis
- Pain Pump Injuries
Failure to Diagnose
The most crucial step in medical treatment is the correct and timely diagnosis of a condition or disease. If an illness is either diagnosed incorrectly or left to worsen over time, there is a very real chance the situation will become more severe.
Types of Failure to Diagnose Cases
At both our Washington, D.C., and our Boston , Massachusetts medical malpractice law offices, instances of failure to diagnose are brought to our lawyers on a regular basis and often involve a lack of proper testing in the diagnosis of cancer victims. In these failure to diagnose cases, months or even years may pass before the cancer is found, resulting in a worse prognosis than if the disease would have been found and treated earlier. While failure to diagnose cancer is one of the more common forms of this type of medical malpractice cases heard in court, failure to diagnose other illnesses can be just as harmful. Other types of cases include failure to diagnose appendicitis, heart problems, diabetes, and hypertension. In some instance, failure to diagnose can lead to the wrongful death of a loved one.
Sadly, failure to diagnose is a common form of medical malpractice for which physicians need to be held accountable. If you or a loved one in the Washington, D.C., or Massachusetts area has been affected by a failure to diagnose an illness, the lawyers at Pollack & Flanders may be able to obtain the just compensation you deserve.
Birth Injury
In Washington, D.C., and Massachusetts , a qualified birth injury attorney at our firm can help victims and families of victims suffering from shoulder dystocia, cerebral palsy, and Erb’s palsy file a medical malpractice claim. Usually, birth injury is caused when the flow of blood to the baby’s brain is cut off for a significant period of time. To prevent this, the doctor and attendants must act swiftly and appropriately to avoid various types of birth injury. Some of the more common types of birth injury are listed below.
Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy is a disorder caused by birth injury that is characterized by diminished muscle control; children with cerebral palsy tend to have visual, auditory, and speech impairments, as well as learning disabilities and trouble with muscle coordination. Sometimes the initial brain injury is caused by doctors who fail to recognize symptoms of birth trauma.
Victims of cerebral palsy require long-term medical care, sometimes for the rest of their lives. Obviously, this can be a tremendous financial and emotional strain on both the victims and their families. If cerebral palsy was caused by doctor or hospital negligence, the responsible party can be held liable for medical malpractice. Washington, D.C., and Massachusetts area victims of birth injury - especially cerebral palsy - should consult an attorney about their compensation options. Contact the offices of Pollack & Flanders today so we can help you without further delay.
Erb’s Palsy
Erb’s palsy is a condition in which the nerves in the shoulder are injured during the birth process, resulting in nerve damage and varying levels of paralysis in the shoulder and arm. Sometimes babies are able to heal on their own. However, in more pronounced cases of this birth injury, which is sometimes caused by doctor malpractice, it may be necessary for the victim to undergo surgery and therapy for lengthy periods of time.
Shoulder Dystocia
When a child is being delivered, it is possible for its shoulders to be “stuck,” a condition known as shoulder dystocia. Inappropriate maneuvering of the baby by the doctor can lead to severe birth traumas such as Erb’s palsy. Specific rights are afforded to victims in both Washington, D.C., and Massachusetts . If a birth injury has affected you, an attorney at Pollack & Flanders may be able to help you obtain compensation.
Surgical Injury
No matter what the procedure, every kind of surgery carries some level of risk. However, when a surgeon makes a mistake due to negligence, the victim is legally entitled to compensation. Some examples of surgical error include the use of defective equipment, procedures that are carried out incorrectly, or the failure of the surgeon to take a patient’s medical history into account when recommending a treatment. If you or a loved one has been injured during surgery because of medical malpractice, you need legal representation. Contact the Washington, D.C., or Boston medical malpractice law offices of Pollack & Flanders today for a case review.
Hospital Negligence
Hospital negligence can manifest itself in several different ways, including insufficient patient care and dangerous or dirty facilities. If a medical provider fails to research the patient’s medical background or does not order the appropriate tests and treatment, this also qualifies as negligence. Fortunately, medical malpractice law makes sure that hospitals and doctors are responsible for both their actions and inactions. The firm of Pollack & Flanders understands that hospital negligence can have devastating consequences. Schedule a consultation with Pollack & Flanders immediately if you feel that you are entitled to compensation due to the negligence of a doctor or a medical facility.
Cancer Misdiagnosis
The earlier a patient is diagnosed with cancer, the better the chances of recovery. If diagnosis, and therefore treatment, is delayed, the cancer may spread to an untreatable level. For this reason, cancer misdiagnosis is a very dangerous and serious form of medical malpractice.
The failure of a doctor to order the correct tests or to correctly interpret test results can have a devastating effect on the health of the patient and the emotional stability of the patient’s family. Cancer misdiagnosis is an issue that requires immediate and experienced legal representation. The lawyers at our Washington, D.C., and Boston firm are well versed in medical malpractice law and will bring not only legal expertise to the case, but also the professional assessments of independent medical experts.
Contact a Medical Malpractice Attorney for Legal Guidance
Most patients who need to see their doctor or go to a hospital will receive excellent care without issue. However, when cases of medical malpractice do occur, the attorneys at our Washington, D.C., and Boston medical malpractice law firm can fight for the rights of victims throughout the Massachusetts area. Whether you or a loved one is a victim of birth injury or a doctor's failure to diagnose a serious disease, an attorney at our firm can help. Contact the lawyers at Pollack & Flanders for a review of your medical malpractice case.
Pain Pump Injuries
Pain Pumps used for the inter-arterial administration of bupivacaine and epinephrine following arthroscopic shoulder surgery have been linked to the on-set of glenohumeral chrondrolysis. This a rare, devastating and life-altering complication which has been linked to the use of the pain pump. Chondrolysis means literally the disappearance of arterial cartilage from the dissolution of its cells. If you have had arthroscopic surgery on your shoulder and suffered this life-altering complication, contact the lawyers of Pollack & Flanders. LLP for a free consultation.
Contact our Washington, D.C., or Boston, Massachusetts offices to learn more about medical malpractice law. Whether you have a failure to diagnose, birth injury, or another medical negligence case, our lawyers can review your claim and advise you of your legal rights.
Pollack & Flanders, LLP
15 Broad St., Suite #900
Boston, Massachusetts 02109
ph: 1.866.425.2699
fax: 617.259.3050
Washington Office
1250 Connecticut Ave. N.W., Suite #200
Washington, D.C. 20036
ph: 1.866.425.2699
fax: 202.261.3508
