Medical Malpractice Attorney Indianapolis Indiana

Medical Malpractice Attorney - Indianapolis Indiana

When you are in pain or suffering from a medical condition you want to be able to trust your physician and rely on his/her intrinsic understanding of medicine to alleviate your suffering and restore your health. That is the ideal physician-patient relationship, but that is not always the case. In some medical cases the doctor, surgeon, anesthesiologist, nurse, pharmacist, or therapist can be misinformed and cause the patient more harm than good. An Indianapolis medical malpractice attorney can help you recover funds that can help you recuperate if you have been the victim of medical negligence. Medical malpractice can occur in any field of medicine and at any stage of treatment or recovery. The Indiana Patient's Compensation Fund Annual Report for 2005 reported that $97,394,534 was paid out in medical malpractice judgments for that year alone.

Medical Negligence Facts - Wrong Site Surgery
Another type of medical malpractice is "wrong-site surgery". According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), the term includes surgery on the wrong organ or limb, at the wrong site on the spine, or on the wrong person. The Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) conducted a study of 43 cases of wrong-site surgery reported through its Sentinel Event Policy over a 3-year period and issued the following recommendations for avoiding wrong-site surgery:

Mark the operative site and involve the patient in the process.

Require oral verification of the correct site in the operating room by each member of the surgical team.

Follow a verification checklist that includes all documents and medical records referencing the intended operative procedure and site.

Directly involve the operating surgeon in the informed consent process.

Engage in ongoing monitoring to ensure verification procedures are followed.

The AHRQ study also noted that, claims for wrong-site orthopedic surgeries represents the largest source of legal claims and result in indemnity payments in 84% of cases, compared with only 30% of orthopedic claims overall. The study established that the key to successful site-verification protocols are simplicity and avoidance of excessive redundancy.

The Physician's Insurance Association of America (PIAA) emphasizes that wrong-site-surgery is more likely in:

Cases that necessitate multiple surgeons on a single patient.

Multiple procedures performed during a single trip to the operating room.

Unusual time constraints.

Atypical anatomy or patient characteristics (physical deformity or morbid obesity).

Contact an Indianapolis Medical Malpractice Lawyer
Have you been the victim of medical negligence and need the legal assistance of our experienced injury lawyer attorneys? If so, contact our Indianapolis Medical Malpractice Attorneys today and get justice for your pain and suffering!

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Injury Claims - Common FAQs

When should I contact an Indiana injury attorney?

If you have suffered an injury as a result of the negligence of someone else, such as a doctor, in an automobile collision, or while working at a construction site, among others, you need to speak with an injury attorney.

What should I look for in an injury attorney?

You should first determine if the injury attorney has the experience necessary to provide you with the best legal advice possible for your personal situation. There is no substitute for experience.

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