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Haematology

Understanding Medical Negligence and Wrongful Death Claims

Medical negligence occurs when a healthcare provider’s actions—or lack of action—cause harm to a patient. This can lead to severe injury or, tragically, wrongful death. Examples of medical negligence include:

  • Misdiagnosis or Delayed Diagnosis: When a condition is missed or diagnosed too late, leading to delayed treatment or harm.

  • Surgical Errors: Mistakes made during surgery, such as operating on the wrong body part, leaving instruments inside the patient, or errors with anesthesia.

  • Medication Errors: Wrong prescriptions, incorrect dosages, or failure to account for patient allergies can all cause serious harm.

  • Birth Injuries: Negligence during labor and delivery can lead to birth injuries, affecting both the mother and the baby.

  • Failure to Treat: When doctors do not provide timely or adequate treatment despite clear symptoms, leading to worsening of the condition.

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How to Recognize Medical Negligence

If you or a loved one experienced unexpected harm or complications after medical treatment, you may wonder if it was due to negligence. Consider these signs:

  • Unusual Complications: Persistent or unexplained symptoms, or the development of new, unexplained medical issues.

  • Lack of Informed Consent: If you or your loved one didn’t fully understand the risks involved in a treatment or surgery, this may indicate a lack of proper informed consent.

  • Second Opinion Confirms Error: If another medical professional indicates that proper procedures weren’t followed, or that a different course of action should have been taken, it may point to negligence.

Unbalanced Scales of Justice
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Practical Next Steps

  1. Gather Documentation
    Collect all medical records, treatment plans, prescriptions, and test results. Detailed records will help establish a timeline of events and provide evidence of potential negligence.

  2. Document Symptoms and Impact
    Keep a personal record of symptoms, complications, or changes in the condition following treatment. Include any emotional, physical, or financial impact experienced.

  3. Seek a Second Opinion
    Another healthcare professional can evaluate the care received and may help identify errors or missteps in treatment.

  4. Contact an Attorney
    Medical negligence cases are complex, requiring legal expertise to review medical records, consult with experts, and build a strong case. An attorney can evaluate your situation, explain your rights, and guide you on the best steps to take.

  5. Act Promptly To Avoid Missing Any Deadlines. These cases have very strict deadlines. Each case is unique, but generally, in Washington state, the statute of limitations for medical malpractice claims is generally three years from the date of injury, and, if you discover your injury or illness resulted from malpractice after the three-year period, you must file within one year of discovering or reasonably should have discovered it.

How Sunlight Law Can Help

At Sunlight Law, we’re committed to supporting victims of medical negligence and their families with compassion and skill. We’ll help you understand your options, assess the full impact of negligence, and fight for fair compensation to help you rebuild. Reach out for a free consultation to discuss your case and get the answers you need.

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