Medical Malpractice Information Center

Thank you for taking the time to visit our Medical Malpractice Information Center. We hope you will find this as a helpful resource for basic information related to medical malpractice laws and lawsuits. By reviewing the topics included in this section of our website, you can find out more about important subjects related to malpractice and negligence on the part of medical professionals – and your legal rights as an injured patient in these matters.

Medical malpractice lawsuits may provide an effective way for a victim to seek and recover financial compensation for injuries or the loss of a loved one caused by substandard medical care. Learn more about these important issues and the key types of medical malpractice claims by reviewing the topics included below:

About Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice is an area of injury law that involves negligence and wrongdoing on the part of medical professionals in virtually any field, from general medicine to plastic surgery. Under your state's medical malpractice laws, you may be able to sue a negligent medical professional or facility for the injuries they have caused as a result of their conduct. You may be entitled to financial compensation for medical expenses, loss of earnings and even emotional trauma and pain and suffering. Read more about medical malpractice.

Birth Injuries
In some situations, the trauma that a mother or baby experience before, during or immediately after childbirth could have been prevented if an obstetrician or nurse had provided standard medical care. In the event that a birth injury such as cerebral palsy, paralysis or Erb's palsy is caused by medical malpractice, the family may be able to take legal action against the negligent medical professional. Read more about birth injuries.

Medication Errors
When a patient is prescribed or administered the wrong medicine or the wrong dose, this can have disastrous consequences. The same may apply if a patient is given medicine to which he or she has a known allergy or that will react violently with another medication already administered. In these situations, the injured patient may be able to hold the responsible pharmacist, pharmacy, doctor, nurse or other party accountable. Read more about medication errors.

Surgical Errors
Any surgery is likely to carry risks for a patient, even when performed properly. Some situations are simply out of a surgeon's hands, but in other cases a surgeon, nurse or other medical professional's conduct will impact the effectiveness of a surgical procedure. In the event of any form of surgical malpractice or negligence, it is crucial to consider one's legal options in filing a medical malpractice claim. Read more about surgical errors.

Misdiagnosis
Just as doctors have a legal obligation to provide patients with proper medical treatment and care, they have an obligation to properly diagnose a patient's condition. They must take the necessary steps and perform the proper tests or other procedures to determine what injury or illness a patient is suffering from. This may include referring a patient to a specialist. A misdiagnosis or failure to diagnose may mean that a patient suffering from a treatable illness or injury will suffer greater harm or may even lose their life. Read more about misdiagnosis.

Emergency Room Errors
The emergency room at a hospital is a busy place. Nursing staff and emergency room doctors must quickly and accurately assess which patients need immediate treatment and who can wait. When errors and negligence occur in the emergency room, this can have disastrous consequences. A heart attack may be misidentified as a less serious medical condition, a brain injury may be overlooked or a dying patient may be ignored entirely. Read more about emergency room errors.

Medical Malpractice in Nursing Homes
Elderly patients in nursing homes have a right to expect that they will receive proper medical care. This may include the proper administration of medication and basic medical care, depending on what the nursing home provides. Negligence and outright neglect may lead to overmedication, bedsores and other serious medical conditions or even the wrongful death of an elderly patient. Read more about nursing home malpractice.

Plastic Surgery Malpractice
Just like other medical professionals, plastic surgeons have an obligation to provide proper care to their patients. They should be properly trained on performing the procedures they offer and should take the necessary precautions in order to provide the level of treatment and results that should be expected. Unfortunately, some plastic surgeons provide substandard treatment and postoperative care, leading to serious injuries or complications. Read more about plastic surgery malpractice.

Dental Malpractice
Dentistry is a complex field that may involve surgical procedures as well as the diagnosis of medical conditions that affect the teeth, gums and mouth. As such, dentists and dental surgeons and anesthesiologists should provide the level of treatment and care that patients deserve. A failure to do so may result in serious patient injuries. Read more about dental malpractice.

Wrongful Death
In some cases, medical malpractice or negligence will lead to the wrongful death of a patient. For the surviving family members, who are left with unanswered questions and often financial problems, they may feel that they have nowhere to turn. This is when a competent attorney can get involved to seek justice on behalf of the patient who lost his or her life. Read more about wrongful death and medical malpractice.

Medical Malpractice FAQ
If you have questions about medical malpractice, we have answers. We have compiled a list of common questions and easy-to-understand answers related to the field of medical malpractice. You can also use our directory to find a lawyer in your area who can answer your questions directly during a confidential consultation. Click here to visit our medical malpractice questions and answers page.

Choosing a Medical Malpractice Attorney
Choosing the right attorney is particularly important when dealing with a complex lawsuit related to medical negligence. As such, you may find it helpful to carefully review an attorney's qualifications, experience and services before making a choice in whom to hire to handle your claim. Click here to read more about choosing a medical malpractice attorney.

State Bar Associations
Visiting the website of or getting in touch with your state bar association may provide you with a way to review an attorney's record. Many state bar associations, among their other duties, maintain records of complaints against attorneys and take disciplinary actions for ethical and other violations. You may find this helpful when you are determining which medical malpractice lawyer to hire. Click here for a list of state bar associations in the U.S.

Find a Qualified Medical Malpractice Lawyer

With our nationwide directory, you have access to medical malpractice lawyers across the U.S. at your fingertips. Whether you wish to learn more about this important subject through our information center or are ready to start looking for a qualified lawyer to handle your case, we welcome you to use our website to address your needs. This field of law is technical and has the potential to be complex. In making sure you have basic information and a skilled attorney by your side, you will be better prepared to file a medical malpractice lawsuit and actually obtain a positive result.

Find a medical malpractice lawyernear you.