Representing Medical Malpractice Victims in Columbus
When something goes wrong in a medical setting and somebody dies or is severely injured as a result, the hospital staff tends to go silent. Family members are often left with more questions than answers about what happened and why. At the law firm of Oates & Courville in Columbus, Georgia, one of the things we try to do for our clients is get answers, even if the injured person doesn't have a legal case against the medical provider.
Before joining Oates and Courville, attorney Traci Green Courville defended doctors and hospitals against medical malpractice claims in Atlanta for more than 10 years. Ms. Courville has tried more than 25 complex medical malpractice cases to verdict. Today, Ms. Courville exclusively represents the victims of medical malpractice. What is Medical Malpractice?
Not every injury or death that occurs in a medical setting is caused by malpractice. A tragic result can happen even when doctors or hospital staff members do everything they are supposed to do. Malpractice only occurs when a medical provider does not follow the accepted standard of care, and you are injured as a result. Unfortunately, under the far-reaching "tort reform" statute which went into effect in Georgia in 2005, emergency rooms have a drastically different standard of care than other medical settings, and there have also been monetary caps placed on most cases. For further information on tort reform and its perils, go to www.georgiawatch.org.
The following are examples of medical malpractice by hospitals or doctors:
- Misdiagnosis or delay in diagnosis of cancer
- Misdiagnosis of childhood diseases such as bacterial meningitis
- Emergency room errors such as misdiagnosis of a heart attack or stroke
- Surgical errors
- Hospital negligence such as administering the wrong medication to a patient
Medical malpractice cases are extremely hard to prove in Georgia. A lawyer can't bring a case to court unless a similarly situated medical professional reviews the medical records and determines that a breach in the standard of care occurred. The expense of filing a medical malpractice is so great that it is generally only worth pursing in the cases of severe injury or wrongful death.
Free Consultation
For more information about medical malpractice or to obtain a free case evaluation, call 888-578-7606 or fill out the contact form on this site. Our law office is in Columbus, Georgia.
How to report medical malpractice in Georgia: If you feel that you or a loved one did not receive appropriate medical care, you may report the suspected malpractice to state heath officials.
