What is "Medical Malpractice"?

Medical malpractice is a broad term generally used to describe any treatment, lack of treatment, or other departure from accepted standards of medical care, health care, or safety on the part of a health care provider that causes harm to a patient. Examples of medical malpractice are too numerous to list. Medical malpractice can include, however, misdiagnosis, improper treatment, failure to treat, delay in treatment, failure to perform appropriate follow-up, prescription errors, etc. In many instances, medical malpractice is not obvious to a lay-person and requires the review and analysis by medical experts.

What must be shown to prevail in a medical malpractice case?

While there are various types of medical malpractice claims, generally speaking, a claimant must usually show the following: The health care provider owed a duty to the patient The health care provider breached that duty The patient suffered an injury The patient's injury was a proximate cause of the health care provider's breach A physician owes a duty to a patient once a "doctor-patient" relationship has been formed. Such a relationship is usually formed when the physician agrees to care for the patient. Nonetheless, even if it is established that a duty existed and the health care provider breached that duty (e.g. failed to meet the requisite standard of care), a claimant may not recover unless the claimant suffered injuries that were a direct result of the breach. If the breach resulted in no harm to the patient, a claimant generally has no right to recovery.

What is the first step in pursuing a medical malpractice claim?

The first step in pursuing a medical malpractice case is suspecting that one may have been the victim of medical malpractice. While not every bad result is due to medical malpractice, one who develops a "gut feeling" that something was wrong should consult a qualified attorney to review the matter, who often will consult with medical professionals. This process often involves the obtaining and review of medical records and other pertinent information. If it is determined that one has a good case, the next step is usually to give written notice of the claim to the individuals or entities that are believed to have committed the medical malpractice.

I have no idea how much money I should ask for or expect. What kind of expenses are typically included in a settlement?

A typical medical malpractice claim will include compensation for pain and suffering, payment of medical expenses for treating the injury caused by the malpractice and reimbursement for any past, present or future financial losses that you have incurred as a result of the malpractice. However, this varies by state.

Have I waived my rights because I signed a consent form?

This is a question asked by many. A consent form does not give the health care provider a license to commit malpractice. While the execution of a typical consent form indicates acknowledgment of stated risks and complications associated with a given treatment or procedure, it does not relieve the health care provider from his or her duty of meeting the standard of care associated with such treatment or procedure.

I've heard that lawsuits take a long time. Is that true with malpractice cases?

Malpractice cases don't necessarily take any longer than other cases, but doctors, hospitals, and insurance companies often try to drag them out. Malpractice claims are often delayed because the doctor or hospital knows they will ultimately have to pay. In other words, they know that they made a horrible mistake. We work hard to prevent these delays.

I have no idea how much money I should ask for or expect. What kind of expenses are typically included in a settlement?

A typical medical malpractice claim will include compensation for pain and suffering, payment of medical expenses for treating the injury caused by the malpractice and reimbursement for any past, present or future financial losses that you have incurred as a result of the malpractice. However, this varies by state.

It's taken me several months to work up the nerve to do anything about my situation. Am I running out of time to file a lawsuit against my doctor?

Statutes of limitations govern the length of time one has to file a lawsuit or be forever barred from pursuing such claim. Each state has different statute of limitation periods which apply to personal injury cases under various circumstances. In some cases, the statute of limitations may be as short as one year, while under different circumstances, it may be eight years or more. Many factors bear upon when the applicable statute of limitations period expires including the age of the plaintiff, the type of personal injury claim, the particular facts giving rise to the injury, and others. One must make absolute certain that they are aware of when their statute of limitations period expires, or risk jeopardizing their legal rights. An experienced personal injury lawyer can be of assistance in this regard.

Nothing serious has happened to me yet, but I'm beginning to question my doctor's care. What can I do to prevent malpractice?

The best advice we can give to you is to listen to your body. If your doctor tells you that you're fine, but you don't feel fine, make another appointment. As you are listening to your body, educate yourself on what's happening. Use the library and the Internet to find out about your symptoms and what tests are usually run for them. Have your doctor write everything down for you. If your doctor denies you a particular test or a referral to a specialist, have the doctor explain in writing the reason for the denial. If the doctor won't write it down, you should seek counsel by a qualified attorney.

FAQs about Baycol and Rhabdomyolysis - Personal Injury Lawyer NYC |...

During the early part of the 2000s, there were reports of fatal Rhabdomyolysis cases associated with the use of Baycol, the anti-cholesterol drug. Baycol was withdrawn from the market in the United States on August 8^th, 2001. Since then, there have been thousands of cases filed against Bayer, the company that manufactured Baycol, over injuries caused by the drug. More than $1 billion have been negotiated with victims in damage settlements.

Common Questions about Baycol

Although it has been withdrawn from the market, many people still have a lot of questions about Baycol and rhabdomyolysis. Here is a look at some of the most common questions about the drug and the condition it causes.

Q1: Where can Baycol be purchased?

A: Baycol can no longer be legally purchased in the United States. The drug was withdrawn as a result of reports that it was causing severe and in some cases, fatal rhabdomyolysis.

Q2: What is Rhabdomyolysis?

A: Rhabdomyolysis is a condition which causes serious muscle damage that releases muscle cell contents, like myoglobin, into the bloodstream. Some of the common symptoms of this condition include, but are not limited to weakness, muscle pain, tenderness, fever, malaise, nausea, vomiting, and dark urine. In rare cases, rhabdomyolysis can cause kidney damage as well as damage to other organs, which could be fatal.

Q3: How can one tell if they have rhabdomyolysis?

A: If you have developed rhabdomyolysis, you will often experience muscle aches in areas such as your back, calves or entire body as well as general weakness and fatigue. This may be combined with nausea, vomiting, fever and dark urine which is almost bloodlike, which occurs as a result of the increased myoglobin. If you experience any of these symptoms, you should get in touch with your doctor immediately.

Q4: What should be done if you are currently taking Baycol?

A: First off, you should stop using Baycol immediately. This drug was withdrawn from the market because of serious, unpreventable health problems. Also, given that it is not legal to distribute or sell Baycol in the US, there is no guarantee that the medication you are taking is equivalent to the real drug Baycol. You should talk to your doctor about alternative medications and also ask for further advice.

Q5: What to do if your doctor gave you Baycol?

A: First of all, you should consult another doctor to identify any medical problems that may have occurred because of your use of Baycol. Then, you should consider talking to a qualified attorney. If your healthcare provider gave you the drug after August 8^th, 2001, then your physician has likely violated the medical standard of care and is liable for the injuries you have suffered.

RMFW Law is the Finest Law Firm on the East Coast

If you or a loved one has suffered harm or injury due to Baycol use, you should immediately seek the help of the qualified personal injury attorneys at Rosenberg, Minc, Falkoff, & Wolff of RMFW Law at 212-344-1000. The first meeting is free. What do you have to say? We know how to win cases, it does not matter how complex they are. If your case is viable, we will carry this torch for you. You have nothing to lose by calling us and letting us hear your version of events.

Where do I start… As a client of a malpractice case, I did not know what to expect. However, the support from Rosenberg, Minc, Falkoff & Wolff Law firm made me feel at ease. The dedication, compassion, and overwhelming hard work that Gary Silverstein put in was undeniably AMAZING. Seeing how hard and diligent Gary worked on my case made me realize that I had the best team on my side. The support from the entire legal team was unbelievable. There were continuous updates, follow-ups, most importantly assurance of any concerns I had before and during my trial. In fact, during the trial Gary showed a vast form of knowledge, strategic and responsive thinking, and most importantly wisdom. His dedication was unbelievable, and not one time did I not feel involved. I am truly appreciative for all that Rosenberg, Minc, Falkoff & Wolff Law have done, but mostly I am appreciative of the amazing staff they have. Lorraine and Sharon played a big part in my case, and I am truly thankful for their support and hard work. I am truly happy to have been a client of Rosenberg, Minc, Falkoff & Wolff Law. I highly recommend them and will continuously refer them, Thank you RMFW!