When you or a loved one suffers harm due to medical negligence, the thought of navigating the legal system can be overwhelming. You might wonder if you need a local attorney or if an out-of-state lawyer can represent you. While there might be some flexibility in certain legal areas, medical malpractice cases in Pennsylvania almost invariably require the expertise of an attorney licensed to practice in the Commonwealth.
Discovering that you or a loved one has been harmed due to medical negligence can be an overwhelming and distressing experience. Beyond the immediate health and possibly financial concerns, the legal process of seeking justice might seem daunting. In Pennsylvania, filing a medical malpractice lawsuit involves specific steps designed to ensure claims have merit. Understanding these steps is crucial for anyone considering legal action.
In Pennsylvania, there are specific legal elements that must be proven to establish medical malpractice against a doctor or other medical professional. To successfully pursue a medical malpractice claim in Pennsylvania, you must demonstrate the presence of four key elements, often referred to as the “four D’s” or the “four elements” (Duty, Dereliction, Direct Cause, Damages).
Establishing medical malpractice against a hospital or medical facility in Pennsylvania typically involves proving the same four elements (Duty, Dereliction, Direct Cause, Damages) as with individual practitioners, but the “dereliction” can stem from systemic failures or the actions of employees for whom the hospital is responsible.
SMA occlusion is a blockage of a major artery that supplies blood to the intestines. When this artery becomes blocked, the intestines are deprived of oxygen and can begin to die within just a few hours. This is a true medical emergency. Without immediate treatment, patients can suffer massive intestinal damage, develop severe infections like sepsis, or die.
Acute mesenteric ischemia is a life-threatening condition that occurs when blood flow to the small intestine (and sometimes the large intestine) is reduced or blocked. The loss of blood deprives the intestinal tissue of oxygen, leading to bowel necrosis, perforation, sepsis, and potentially death if not promptly reversed.
In many cases, CAUTIs are preventable. When hospitals, nursing homes, or healthcare providers fail to follow proper standards of care for catheter use, the result can be a severe infection, sepsis, prolonged hospitalization, or even death. In these cases, a catheter-associated infection may be a result of medical malpractice.
While underlying conditions increase clotting risk, medication errors play a major role in preventable cases of thromboembolism. Providers commonly use anticoagulant medications – such as warfarin, heparin, and direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) – to help prevent DVT and PE in at-risk patients. mismanagement – such as incorrect dosing, omitted doses, or failure to adjust based on patient factors – can neglect necessary protection, allowing clots to form and become fatal emboli.
Certain drugs are toxic to the kidneys, particularly when improperly prescribed, administered in the wrong dose, or given without regard for the patient’s renal function. These medication errors can turn an otherwise reversible condition into a catastrophic outcome. One of the most frequent and preventable causes of acute kidney injury in hospitalized patients is medication-related.
There are many potential causes of respiratory depression or arrest, including brain injuries, neuromuscular disorders, and severe infections. However, one of the most common—and most preventable—causes in hospitalized patients is the improper administration of medications.
A stroke occurs when blood flow to part of the brain is interrupted, either due to a blockage (ischemic stroke) or bleeding in the brain (hemorrhagic stroke). A hemorrhage, whether intracranial or elsewhere in the body, involves uncontrolled bleeding from blood vessels and can be life-threatening if not treated quickly. In medical settings, these catastrophic events are sometimes the direct result of errors in medication management.
Cardiac events may occur despite appropriate care due to complex medical conditions or unforeseeable complications. However, when a provider fails to consider known risks, skips standard heart monitoring, administers drugs inappropriately, or ignores warning signs, preventable harm occurs—and it might be grounds for a malpractice claim.
