Medical professionals are meant to provide care and healing, but in cases of medical malpractice the opposite occurs. When a doctor makes an incorrect diagnosis, fails to treat a patient's condition promptly, issues a wrong prescription, or neglects to administer appropriate care, the patient may suffer serious injury. The victim and his or her family may be overwhelmed with medical bills and other costs. In cases of permanent disability, the victim may never be able to work again. In addition, victims and their families often endure lasting emotional pain and suffering from medical errors and omissions. Effective medical malpractice lawyers can help recover damages such as lost wages, costs of future procedures, and for the general pain and suffering associated with medical malpractice.

Georgia medical malpractice lawsuits can be very complicated. In Georgia, a medical malpractice lawsuit cannot be brought unless a doctor’s affidavit laying out the Defendant’s negligence acts and or omissions is attached to the complaint for damages. Negligence is the failure to exercise reasonable care that an ordinary person would use under the same circumstances. While insurance companies most likely handle doctors and other medical professionals’ claims, the doctor, in most cases, must consent to any settlement that may be reached. In most all cases, medical experts are required to testify about the procedures and complications of a case and denote how the doctor or provider deviated from the standard of care that is generally required.

Types of medical malpractice include: performing a procedure incorrectly, prescribing the wrong medication or wrong amount, performing the wrong procedure, leaving something inside the patient’s body during surgery, misdiagnosing a serious condition, failing to diagnose a condition that should have been discovered and other types of injuries that may occur that involves medical professionals.

Medical malpractice lawsuits should be brought as soon as possible because medical records and bills have to be collected and thoroughly reviewed before the initiation of any potential claim. This process includes reviews by both attorneys and medical experts. The process takes time and is needed to ensure all viable negligence claims are incorporated.

In Georgia, medical malpractice actions generally must be brought within 2 years from the date of the injury or negligence. There are a few rare exceptions for minors, but in general unless your claim is brought within this 2 year time period your claim can be forever barred no matter how serious or permanent the injuries.

If you or a loved one has been a victim of medical malpractice, you may want to contact our Georgia Medical Malpractice Lawyers at Childers, Schlueter & Smith, LLC to see how they can help protect your legal interests. Our trained Georgia Medical Malpractice Attorneys can help answer any questions you may have and as always, the initial consultation is free of charge.

• C. Andrew Childers
• Richard R. Schlueter
• William A. Parker, Jr
• M. Brandon Smith