We live in an age of medical miracles. Many diseases that were once responsible for untold numbers of fatalities are now all but vanquished thanks to vaccines and other medications. There are also surgical procedures that can fix injuries that at one time would leave people incapacitated. And as time goes on, we will no doubt discover even more ways to treat conditions and ease human suffering.
But regardless of the amazing advancements, one thing is likely to remain constant: doctors must be capable of accurately diagnosing their patients. After all, a wonder drug or a new surgical procedure is of little use if a doctor fails to discover the true cause of a patient’s symptoms or doesn’t catch a previously unnoticed problem.
And in some cases, incorrect treatment could harm a patient as much or more than no treatment at all. For instance, if a doctor prescribes a drug to which a patient is allergic or creates a bad reaction with another medication, the patient could suffer serious side effects, such as organ failure, a heart attack or even death.
Doctors have a duty of care to carry out careful and thorough examinations that will lessen the likelihood of a patient being harmed. Should a doctor do otherwise and as a result a patient is seriously harmed, then that doctor should be held accountable for his or her negligence.
The attorneys at Purchase, George & Murphey are knowledgeable in the many ways in which a doctor may fail to properly treat a patient. If you suspect that you or a family member has been injured due to a doctor’s mistake, you may wish to contact us at your soonest convenience.
We understand the hardships that can be created by incorrect patient care and we have experience preparing medical malpractice suits to help injured patients and their families get appropriate compensation. For more information about the ways in which we may be able to help you, please take a look at our medical malpractice page.