Medical Malpractice Attorneys In Erie, PA
Erie, PA Medical Malpractice Lawyers Assist Victims of Hospital Negligence
Medical carelessness is the leading cause of death and injury in the United States today, despite recent advances in the technology and technique of health care delivery. An estimated 98,000 people die every year as a result of medical errors — and countless more are injured, often permanently, as a result of avoidable medical mistakes.
Were you seriously hurt by a medical error? Did you lose a loved one due to hospital, doctor, or nursing home malpractice? If so, contact us today for a free consultation. You can also view our Medical Malpractice FAQ page for more information.
What Is Medical Malpractice?
Medical malpractice is the failure to adequately diagnose or treat a patient. When that failure results in injury to the patient, such as when a doctor assumes that a condition is harmless and thus fails to order tests that would have revealed a life-threatening condition in time to save the patient, or when the wrong medication is ordered or provided to a patient and the patient subsequently dies or is injured, the patient or their survivors are entitled to recover compensation for harms and losses.
Purchase, George & Murphey, P.C. Represents People Who Have Been Injured by Medical Negligence in Erie, PA
If you’ve been seriously injured, if you’ve lost a loved one as the result of a medical mistake, or if you suspect that such a mistake is involved but have not yet been able to get meaningful answers from your doctor or hospital, the experienced Erie medical malpractice lawyers at Purchase, George & Murphey, P.C. can help.
Attorneys Eric Purchase, Tim George, and Craig Murphey are experienced Erie attorneys who can represent you from the initial investigation of your medical malpractice case to its final resolution.
Contact us toll free at 814-273-2010 or locally at 814-273-2010 for a free consultation if you’ve been seriously hurt or lost a loved one because of medical malpractice.
The Investigation of Your Pennsylvania Medical Negligence Case Is Critical
Some medical mistakes are obvious, like wrong site surgeries where the surgeon is supposed to amputate the left leg but instead amputates the right leg. Most medical malpractice cases, however, require thorough investigation and analysis of complex medical issues.
Indeed, determining what happened and why is often the main reason that clients come to us. Doctors and hospitals are often reluctant to share the truth with families after a medical error. Medical records frequently do not reveal the complete truth. We conduct a vigorous investigation to collect available evidence and then we use the best experts and specialists to review your case, determine what happened and why, and develop the best legal options for you.
How Purchase, George & Murphey Helps People Injured by Medical Malpractice
It is not just our thorough investigation and analysis strategies that set us apart. We have a unique combination of legal experience that benefits our clients.
Prior to 2006, Eric Purchase represented one of the region’s largest hospitals and defended cases involving complex medical issues. Between 2008 and 2010, Mr. Purchase also served as one of the only independent, volunteer community members on St. Vincent Health Center’s Institutional Review Board (also known as an independent ethics committee) and worked to protect the rights and well-being of patients involved in experimental studies. Now Mr. Purchase actively represents injured people and their families in cases against Pennsylvania hospitals and physicians who negligently caused harm.
Attorney Tim George is a former prosecutor and military lawyer who understands the ins and outs of the courtroom and who knows how to prepare PA medical malpractice cases for trial. This experience distinguishes attorneys Purchase, George, and Murphey among other Erie, PA medical malpractice lawyers and will help them to represent you in your medical negligence case.
The Erie Medical Malpractice Lawyers at Purchase, George & Murphey Offer You Helpful Information
We provide more information on medical malpractice, including safety tips, in our medical malpractice library. You’ll find specific articles on the particular medical malpractice areas we handle at Purchase, George & Murphey, P.C., including:
- Birth Injuries
- Pediatric Malpractice
- Obstetrical/Midwife Malpractice
- Failure to Diagnose Cancer
- Failure to Diagnose Breast Cancer
- Failure to Diagnose and Misdiagnosis of Other Conditions
- Brain Injuries
- Medication Errors
- Hospital Negligence
- Surgical Errors
Work with Eric Purchase, Tim George, and Craig Murphey to Get Compensated for Medical Malpractice Injuries in Erie, PA
Purchase, George & Murphey, P.C. is a team of Pennsylvania medical malpractice lawyers with a strong commitment to making things right for our clients. We get to know each one of our clients, as well as their families, and we limit the number of cases that we take in order to give each client the personal attention that he or she deserves.
If you’d like more information, call the Erie medical malpractice lawyers at Purchase, George & Murphey, P.C. toll-free at 814-273-2010 or locally at 814-273-2010 for a free consultation. You can also fill out our online contact form to arrange a visit to one of our offices in Erie, North East, or Meadville, Pennsylvania.
Schedule Your Free Case Review with Our Top-Rated Medical Malpractice Lawyers Today
Our lawyers are experienced in handling even the most complex medical malpractice cases. We advance all costs associated with your claim to make sure we have the best experts at our side to testify on your behalf.
For more information about options for getting compensation if you have been the victim of medical negligence, call our Erie, PA medical malpractice lawyers today. You can also fill out this online contact form or use our convenient online chat feature.
Frequently Asked Questions About Erie, PA Medical Malpractice Claims
Sometimes there is not anything that a doctor or healthcare provider can do to improve a patient’s condition—even when they treat the patient with great skill using all available treatment protocols. However, when a doctor acts carelessly or fails to provide appropriate care, the injured patient may be entitled to financial compensation.
Medical malpractice cases can be complex, intimidating and time consuming. At Purchase, George & Murphey, P.C., our experienced medical malpractice lawyers have the skills and dedication required to get injured patients the financial compensation they deserve.
Most victims of medical negligence have many questions about the process for recovering compensation. Here are some answers to our most frequently asked questions about medical malpractice in Erie.
What is medical malpractice under Pennsylvania law?
Medical malpractice means that a doctor or healthcare provider deviated from a “standard of care”. The standard of care is the amount of skill and care that is expected of a reasonable doctor with appropriate training based on the circumstances. In other words, the standard of care is something of a moving target. It will vary from case to case. For example, a doctor must have the skill and education necessary to provide the medical care in question. Failing to have that knowledge could constitute malpractice if the doctor’s lack of training caused an injury.
What types of mistakes can give a patient a valid medical malpractice claim?
Not all bad medical outcomes give patients the right to recover compensation for the harm they have suffered. Only medical mistakes that a reasonable doctor, nurse or medical provider would not have made under the circumstances are medical negligence. Some examples of mistakes that can give you the right to seek compensation for malpractice include:
- Failure to diagnose a disease,
- Misdiagnosis,
- Failure to warn of the side effects of a procedure or medication,
- Surgical errors, such as operating on the wrong body part or leaving equipment in the patient’s body,
- Medication errors, including prescribing the wrong dose, the wrong drug or using the wrong delivery system for the drug.
Why are medical malpractice claims often more complicated than most injury and accident cases?
Medical negligence is different than general negligence. To prove medical malpractice, you have to show more than the fact that the doctor or medical provider’s actions caused you harm. You also have to establish the medical standard of care—meaning how a reasonable medical provider would have acted under the circumstances. That standard can be different based on various factors, including the patient’s history, age and even the geographic location and type of medical care involved.
Who can be held responsible for medical malpractice?
Any type of negligent medical provider. Potentially responsible parties include:
- Doctors
- Surgeons
- Pharmacists
- Obstetricians
- Nurses
- Dentists
- Hospitals
- Medical clinics
- Lab technicians
- And more
In almost every medical malpractice case, it is the healthcare provider’s insurance company that is actually responsible for providing compensation to victims.
Can a doctor be held liable for failing to disclose every risk of a surgery or procedure? What is informed consent?
Most medical treatment protocols, including surgeries and even prescription drugs, carry known risks. Before consenting, the patient must receive information about the risks so that the consent is “informed”. Many of the risks are laid out in one of the many documents that a patient is asked to sign. Depending upon the severity of the risk, a doctor might be held liable for failing to make the risk clear to the patient. Whether failure to disclose a serious risk constitutes malpractice depends upon whether a reasonable doctor would have disclosed the risk.
I don’t have any medical training. How do I know whether I have a claim for medical malpractice?
Most medical malpractice victims are not sure that they have a claim—but they can usually suspect that something unusual went wrong. Our lawyers work with the best medical experts available to determine whether you have a claim. We examine your medical records. We interview witnesses. We look at the doctor’s safety record. Because we have experience handling medical malpractice cases, we can usually give you an educated opinion early on so that we can decide on the best course of action for doing forward.
What should I do after I begin to suspect my doctor made a mistake?
You should first obtain all of your medical records. This is important because, depending upon the system used by your care provider, records may be changed. After doing this, you can also ask your doctor what happened. Some healthcare providers will be straightforward, and others might refer you to someone in an administrative role. Keep records of how you are feeling and write down everything that you can remember. Getting things down on paper early can help avoid forgetting something later. Call an experienced and reputable medical malpractice lawyer. Your lawyer can take steps to preserve evidence to begin building your case as soon as possible.
How do I get my medical records?
You can ask the administrator at the hospital or facility. In some cases, the hospital might even have an online tool where you can use their procedures to get your records. You will be asked to fill out a HIPAA form that allows the facility to release your records. If you have difficulty obtaining copies, call us today and we will begin working to get your records.
What is a “certificate of merit” in a medical malpractice case?
Under Pennsylvania law, victims of medical malpractice must file a certificate of merit. The certificate contains the opinion of another qualified doctor stating that your doctor’s actions amounted to malpractice. Your lawyer must file the certificate within 60 days of filing the initial complaint in order for your case to proceed.
Do I have to go to trial to resolve my medical malpractice case?
While our lawyers are always prepared to advocate for our clients at trial, not all cases go to trial. Sometimes we can reach a fair settlement agreement with the insurance companies without trial. In other cases, a judge or jury will decide the value of your case.
What is my medical malpractice case worth?
It depends upon the severity of your harm. We work to get compensation for:
- All medical expenses, including future medical care needed to treat the harm caused by the mistake,
- Lost wages, current and future,
- Pain and suffering, both physical and emotional,
- Any out-of-pocket expenses associated with the harm.
Where can I find more information on medical malpractice lawsuits?
Please check out our Medical Malpractice FAQ page for more information
