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Savannah Medical Malpractice

Savannah Medical Malpractice Lawyers

Our medical negligence attorneys fight for patients’ rights in Georgia

When you seek out medical care, you expect to receive the best treatment possible. You certainly don’t expect to leave a doctor’s office or hospital in worse shape than when you came. Unfortunately, this happens with alarming frequency. Many Americans are injured, or even die, each year because of preventable medical errors. It is imperative that healthcare providers—doctors, nurses, dentists, obstetricians, and other professionals—are held accountable for injuries they cause patients because of their own medical negligence or recklessness.

The Savannah medical malpractice lawyers at Harris Lowry Manton LLP understand the complexities and difficulties around these types of cases, and want to ensure that you are compensated for a medical professional’s negligence. If you or a loved one suffered a preventable injury from a healthcare provider, we’ll talk to you about what happened—and how we can help.

 

Phenomenal firm! Steve Lowry took on a close friend’s malpractice case. I’ve never seen such thorough and thoughtful work on behalf of a wrongful death suit. The care she was given at such a delicate time and the tenacity of the firm is unparalleled.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Google Review

What Should I Consider About Filing a Medical Malpractice Claim?

What is medical malpractice?

Medical malpractice occurs when a hospital, doctor, or other healthcare professional causes injury to a patient, through a negligent act or failure to act. This negligence could be the result of errors in diagnosis, treatment, aftercare, or health management.

All patients are different, so all medical situations are different. Our attorneys customize their approach depending on your circumstances, but some of the more common malpractice claims we see include:

  • Misdiagnosis or failure to diagnose. When a doctor diagnoses you improperly, or misses your diagnosis altogether, it delays the treatment you need to get well. For some, that could be the difference between life and death.
  • Medication errors. Medication mistakes are a common and harmful type of medical malpractice. Unreadable prescriptions, improper dosages, pharmacy mistakes—these can all lead to accidental overdoses, allergic responses, or harmful interactions. Over-prescribing, like in the case of painkillers, can also be a form of malpractice.
  • Unnecessary surgery or surgical errors. We’re all aware that every surgery comes with risks. But risks increase when a patient undergoes unnecessary procedures. If errors happen during surgery, serious injury can occur, and further surgeries may be necessary to repair the damage.
  • Anesthesia errors. If administered improperly, anesthesia can cause injury. Use too much and a patient can overdose. Use too little and the patient can experience “anesthesia awareness.” Improper intubation before anesthesia can also cause injury.
  • Doctors under the influence. Prescription drug abuse is a growing problem in the United States, and Savannah is no exception. Nobody is immune to addiction, even medical professionals. If you were treated by a doctor, surgeon, or nurse who was under the influence of drugs or alcohol, we want to help.
  • Defective medical devices. Devices like pacemakers or knee replacements are required to undergo rigorous testing before they go on the market and can be used on patients. Sometimes, however, it turns these devices aren’t properly tested. Or the device was made with faulty parts, and patients suffer serious injury.
  • Labor and delivery negligence. If an OB/GYN, midwife, doula, nurse, or any medical professional behaves in a negligent manner, it is more than you who could be hurt; your child could sustain a life-altering birth injury.

If you are unsure whether your injuries are related to medical malpractice, that’s okay: our attorneys can help you make that determination.

Was it medical malpractice?

There are a few misconceptions about what does and doesn’t constitute medical malpractice. A few examples: You go to the hospital for elective surgery and aren’t happy with the outcome. Or, your doctor treated your condition, but it didn’t improve. Or perhaps you didn’t respond to the recommended treatment. It may appear that your doctor failed you.

However, not every unsuccessful treatment is medical malpractice. Consulting with an experienced malpractice attorney can give you a clearer understanding of your particular situation.

Medical malpractice risks at Savannah area hospitals

Are the hospitals in your area safe? Leapfrog, a patient safety advocate group, developed a tool called Hospital Safety Grade that allows users to search for the safety ratings of hospitals. Here are the current safety grades for hospitals local to the Savannah area. The Hospital Safety Grade tool reports grades on issues like hospital-acquired infection rates, safety issues, surgical errors, and doctors, nurses, and staff.

Here are the grades of the hospitals in and near Savannah:

  • Memorial Health Savannah: C
  • Candler Hospital: C
  • Joseph’s Hospital: C
  • East Georgia Regional Medical Center: D

Based on the Hospital Safety Grade data, patients would need to travel into the next state, South Carolina, in order to receive above-average care.

What is informed consent?

Your right as a patient is to know exactly how your procedure or medication is supposed to work, and what kinds of results or side effects to expect. Also, in Georgia, medical professionals are required to provide certain information to patients, so they can make informed decisions about whether or not to agree to a certain treatment. This includes:

  • Prognosis if patient forgoes the procedure or treatment
  • Diagnosis of the medical condition
  • Recommended course of treatment or therapy
  • Available alternate treatments and their comparable benefits and risks

This is called “informed consent.” If a professional performs a procedure or treatment without informed consent, he or she is breaking the law.

Our medical malpractice attorneys are here to protect your rights

The experienced Savannah medical malpractice lawyers at HLM have decades of combined experience representing the people of Georgia. If you believe you have suffered an injury or loss due to medical malpractice, schedule a consultation with one of our attorneys today so we can begin investigating your case. Please call 912-651-9967 or complete our contact form to schedule a free initial consultation.

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Savannah Office

410 E. Broughton Street
Savannah, GA 31401 Phone: 912.651.9967
Fax: 912.651.1276

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