Common types of medical malpractice include stroke misdiagnosis, heart attack misdiagnosis, and cancer misdiagnosis.
Pennsylvania medical malpractice claims may be filed against a variety of medical professionals, including:
- Family doctors,
- Specialists (anesthesiologists, dermatologists, radiologists, etc.),
- Surgeons, and
- Nurses and nurse practitioners.
In addition, hospitals, medical centers, and medical offices may also face liability for medical malpractice of an employee.
Do I Have a Valid Medical Malpractice Case in Delaware County?
Under Pennsylvania law, medical malpractice or medical negligence occurs when a medical treatment falls below the accepted standard of care for the given specialty or area of practice.
However, in order to prevail in a medical malpractice lawsuit, that conduct or medical treatment must cause injury to the patient. Without an injury, there is no viable claim.
For example, a family doctor in Delaware County orders a diagnostic test which reveals a cancerous growth. The radiologist alerts the family doctor, who notifies the patient 1 month later. However, the 1-month delay has zero impact on the patient’s treatment and prognosis. Here, even though the family doctor committed medical negligence by failing to notify the patient of the test result, that failure caused no harm.
On the other hand, let’s say the family doctor failed to notify the patient of the test result. A year later, the patient sees a specialist for severe symptoms and obtains the results of the earlier diagnostic test. The latest test reveals that the cancerous growth has increased in size and spread to the surrounding tissue. As a result, the patient’s treatment requires extensive surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, and the prognosis has worsened. Here, the family doctor’s failure has certainly harmed the patient’s treatment course and prognosis.
Our Pennsylvania cancer misdiagnosis lawyers accept cases throughout Delaware County, including Aston, Broomall, Lansdowne, Media, Newtown Square, Radnor, Ridley, Springfield, Upper Darby, etc. Call (610) 825-0500 for a FREE, NO OBLIGATION consultation.
The Statute of Limitations for Delaware County Medical Malpractice Lawsuits
In Pennsylvania medical malpractice cases, including those filed in Delaware County, patients typically have two years from the date of the negligent conduct to file a lawsuit. However, in medical malpractice cases, patients may not uncover the negligent treatment until months or years later. In these instances, the law makes an exception and allows the patient to file a medical malpractice lawsuit within 2 years of reasonably discovering the malpractice.
Using the example above, the two-year clock would start ticking on the date the patient discovered the earlier test result that showed a cancerous growth. The clock would not start ticking on the date the family doctor received the test result from the radiologist.
It’s important to note that statute of limitations issues are often complex, and laws often change. It’s crucial to have an experienced medical malpractice lawyer review your case to determine the applicable time period. Learn more about statute of limitations in Pennsylvania medical malpractice cases.
About Morris Wilson Knepp Jacquette
Morris Wilson Knepp Jacquette, P.C. achieved a Best Law Firm rating by U.S. News & World Report in the areas of medical malpractice law and personal injury law from 2016 until the rating was discontinued in August 2023.
We provide client-centered representation and devote tremendous amounts of resources, time, and attention to our clients’ cases to provide them the best chance at maximum compensation. Our goal in every medical malpractice case is to help our clients achieve financial security as they face future medical care, therapy, or other rehabilitation bills. Cases are accepted across Pennsylvania. Call us for a FREE CONSULTATION. (610) 825-0500