Medical Malpractice Attorney In Waterbury, CT
Medical treatment is meant to restore patients to health. However, errors in the delivery of care can cause serious harm. A Waterbury medical malpractice lawyer may represent a patient who believes a provider’s negligence caused an injury or worsened a medical condition.
Waterbury area hospitals, surgery centers, and medical practices perform complex procedures and administer sophisticated treatments every day. When a medical mistake occurs during diagnosis, treatment, or surgery, or when a doctor or nurse provides inappropriate follow-up care, the impact on a patient’s health, finances, and ability to perform everyday tasks can be significant.
Hire a Medical Malpractice Lawyer
Medical malpractice cases involve a thorough analysis of medical records, treatment decisions, and the applicable standard of care owed by medical professionals. The attorneys at Williams, Walsh & O’Connor, LLC have over 150 years of collective legal experience representing people throughout Connecticut in complex personal injury and medical negligence cases.
Our firm is based in North Haven near New Haven, Connecticut, and we represent clients in communities throughout the state, including Waterbury. Our legal team reviews the medical and legal issues in a malpractice claim and pursues each case with the focus and preparation necessary for litigation in Connecticut courts.
What Medical Malpractice Means Under Connecticut Law
If a healthcare provider’s actions don’t meet the required standard of care and a patient is consequently injured, that constitutes medical malpractice. Doctors, nurses, hospitals, and other professionals must deliver treatment that a reasonably skilled provider would deliver in similar situations.
When care falls short, patients can suffer preventable injuries, complications, or worsening medical conditions. A malpractice review often includes medical records, treatment decisions, and provider communication.
In a medical malpractice case, professional medical testimony may be necessary to help establish negligence by describing how the defendant’s conduct failed to meet the applicable standard of care. Medical records, test results, and the timing of treatment may be some of the evidence used to determine whether a provider’s conduct caused a patient’s injury.
Common Types of Medical Errors in Malpractice Claims
Malpractice claims can result from surgical errors, medication errors, delayed diagnoses, or failure to monitor a patient’s condition. Diagnostic errors are one of the most serious and common problems in modern healthcare. A national study by BMJ Quality & Safety on the subject found that as many as 795,000 people per year die or suffer permanent disability in the U.S. as a result of dangerous diseases that were misdiagnosed.
This can result in a patient failing to receive necessary treatment in a timely manner or in a condition worsening before it is detected. Diagnostic testing, physician notes, and the timeline of care may be analyzed to determine whether the appropriate standard of medical care was met.
Medical Malpractice Claims and Financial Impact
Medical malpractice claims carry serious financial ramifications when negligent treatment results in severe harm to a patient. They are often used to address losses such as the cost of additional treatment and rehabilitation, as well as lost wages resulting from the injury.
In 2024, there were 435 closed medical malpractice claims in Connecticut, with a total of $323,987,235 in indemnity payments to claimants, according to the Connecticut Medical Malpractice Report.
A financial and medical review of an injury is often part of the process for assessing a malpractice claim. Medical records of treatment, billing information, and professional medical analysis are some of the evidence that may be used to demonstrate the effects of negligence in treatment.
Connecticut’s Certificate of Good Faith Requirement for Malpractice Cases
Connecticut law also requires that certain documents be attached before a medical malpractice claim can be filed. Pursuant to Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-190a, a plaintiff’s complaint must contain a certificate of good faith. The certificate indicates that a reasonable investigation was made prior to the filing of the claim.
The plaintiff must also attach a written opinion from a similarly qualified healthcare provider at the time of filing, indicating that the evidence obtained demonstrates medical negligence has occurred.
The purpose of these requirements is to show that the medical malpractice claim had some factual and medical basis for being in court. Since medical malpractice claims often involve complex medical issues, a professional review of the treatment records is often required to determine whether a healthcare provider’s conduct fell below the standard of care.
Hospitals and Healthcare Providers Serving Waterbury Patients
Waterbury residents have access to several healthcare facilities, including Waterbury Hospital and nearby medical centers. Health care is provided by hospitals and medical offices, which offer emergency care, surgery, diagnostic testing, and specialty treatment. While medical care often occurs without incident, there are times when diagnosis, treatment, and patient monitoring come into question, and a person may wonder whether the proper standard of care was provided.
When medical treatment becomes an issue, a timeline of care will likely be reviewed, which may include physician notes, imaging scans, laboratory tests, and hospital records. Understanding whether the medical care provided meets the standard of care can be gained by reviewing and evaluating these records.
The Statute of Limitations for Medical Malpractice in Connecticut
In Connecticut, there is a statute of limitations for medical malpractice claims. Reviewing these records may help determine whether the medical care provided met the applicable standard of care.
Under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584, a patient generally has two years from the date the injury is first discovered, or reasonably should have been discovered, to file a malpractice claim. Additionally, the overall limit is three years from the date of the negligent act or omission in most circumstances.
The statute of limitations applies to malpractice claims involving physicians, hospitals, and other healthcare professionals. In some instances, because a complication or injury is not readily apparent, determining when the statute of limitations begins to run may require complex legal analysis. It is important to note that a medical malpractice case must be brought within the time allowed by law.
Contact a Waterbury Medical Malpractice Lawyer
Medical malpractice claims may arise when a mistake during a patient’s diagnosis, treatment, or course of care results in preventable harm. People in Waterbury may receive health care services from a number of providers, including Waterbury Hospital and other medical facilities in the surrounding area.
Williams, Walsh & O’Connor, LLC has represented clients throughout Connecticut who are considering bringing a medical negligence claim related to serious injury or incorrect medical treatment. Schedule a consultation now to hire a medical malpractice lawyer who can advocate for you.
