Why the Doctor is Called Upon First in a Medical Malpractice Case
Usually in any medical malpractice case in the state of New York, the doctor who has treated the plaintiff will be called first to the witness stand to provide his testimony. When a medical malpractice lawsuit is initiated, the plaintiff’s lawyer has to prove the case by a preponderance of evidence. This means the lawyer has to establish that his client is more likely right than wrong, in what he is claiming to be true.
Missing Evidence in a Medical Malpractice Case
Suppose an important piece of evidence in your medical malpractice case has gone missing. Can this information be used at the time of trial? The answer is yes, and you can use that information of missing evidence at trial. Now, let say your case is about failure to timely diagnose and treat a fracture, and the key piece of evidence in your case are the x-rays that were taken in the orthopedics office. Once the lawsuit is initiated by you, these x-rays mysteriously disappear. So, now what happens next?
In Camera Review by a Judge in a Medical Malpractice Case
There will be instances during civil litigations such as medical malpractice, wrongful death, and accident matters, where one of the parties to the case will have certain documents or evidence that they believe should be coming into evidence, or should not be coming into evidence at the time of the trial. When this happens, the concerned side will ask the judge to review the particular piece of evidence in camera or in private.
Can You Change Your Attorney during a Medical Malpractice Case
If you have hired an attorney to handle your medical malpractice case in New York, and you are not happy with his performance, then can you switch attorneys? The answer is yes, as you have the legal right to go to any attorney you wish, and at any time that you wish. You may have started your medical malpractice case with one lawyer and by the time the case has progressed halfway, you may not be satisfied with his performance for whatever reason, you have every right to hire another attorney, and even another attorney after that, and so on.
Certificate of Merit in a Medical Malpractice Case
In order to start a medical malpractice lawsuit in New York, the plaintiff’s attorney has to submit a certificate of merit to the court. In New York, the law requires that when you want to start a medical malpractice case, you must acquire confirmation from a medical expert, who has treated you or reviewed all your medical records. The medical expert must confirm that:
Ectopic Pregnancy and Medical Malpractice
Ectopic means misplaced, and therefore ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy that occurs outside the womb or uterus. In a normal pregnancy, the baby will be born within the uterus, where it grows in the course of nine months. A pregnancy that winds up going outside the uterus is potentially quite deadly. When the embryo is growing in an enclosed space, it cannot go anywhere, it will keep getting bigger, and the woman will experience various symptoms.
Is it Wise to Handle Your Own Medical Malpractice Lawsuit
Can a person handle his or her own medical malpractice case in New York? Even though a person is legally allowed to handle his own case, it would be highly impractical to do so, due to several reasons. Unless the person knows how the litigation process works and all the rules and regulations that go into handling the procedural issues of a medical malpractice lawsuit, the person should not handle such a matter on his own.
What happens When a Doctor Alters Someone’s Medical Records
In a medical malpractice case, the plaintiff’s attorney receives the opportunity to ask questions to the doctor regarding the incident, at the deposition. This question and answer session takes place in an attorney’s office, under oath, and whatever is said during the deposition can be presented as evidence during the trial. Before the deposition, the plaintiff’s attorney reviews the case file and medical records of the patient.
Motion to Reargue in a Medical Malpractice Case
What is Motion to Reargue?
The Importance of Past Medical History in a Medical Malpractice Case
When a patient goes to a doctor for medical care, he has to fill out certain forms, and when he meets the doctor, he needs to narrate to the doctor his past health issues. The patient will have to be honest with the doctor and should narrate whatever has happened in the past. The patient might have suffered some type of injury due to someone’s carelessness, whether it was from a doctor’s treatment or an accident. It will form part of the medical history, and he will have to mention this to the doctor.