Medical Malpractice

Have you or a loved one been injured or suffered death as a result of medical negligence?

When a health care provider makes a mistake, the ramifications can be catastrophic for patients and their families. 

The good news is that if you or a loved one has suffered harm due to the malpractice of a medical professional, you may have a right to sue for compensation.

Giroux Pappas Trial Attorneys, formerly known as Giroux Trial Attorneys, has taken on hundreds of medical malpractice cases in Michigan. Keep reading to learn more about medical malpractice and how our firm can help you, or contact us today to schedule a free consultation.

Understanding Medical Malpractice

In order to understand medical malpractice, it’s important to know that, in every medical situation, there is a standard of treatment that must be met by health care providers. When that standard is not met and a patient suffers because of it, the patient can bring a medical malpractice claim. 

Many such cases occur in the operating room. However, medical malpractice can also occur at the diagnostic level of care: misinterpreting CT scans or x-rays, for example. Pharmacists, dentists, oral surgeons, anesthesiologists, obstetricians, nurses, psychiatrists, and other types of medical professionals can likewise be found liable for malpractice in their respective fields.

When a patient suffers injury or death during or after medical treatment, a patient (or their family) can inquire whether a substandard level of care was provided. If medical malpractice liability is found, the patient or their family may recover compensation for their injuries (including wrongful death), including economic and non-economic losses. Deciding whether to pursue a legal remedy after a negative medical outcome can be difficult. The physical and emotional tolls of a serious medical condition are always considered, and when you add to this the weight of a serious legal case, the effect can be overwhelming.

Examples of Medical Malpractice

Medical malpractice can happen at virtually any stage of medical care. Common instances of medical malpractice include:

• Misdiagnosis or failing to diagnose a serious medical condition (e.g., cancer, pulmonary embolism, ectopic pregnancy)
• Misdiagnosis of mammograms, biopsies, X-rays, MRIs, CT scans, & other diagnostic tests
• Anesthesia-related errors leading to death or brain damage
• Lab errors
• Overdoses or medication errors due to prescription or pharmacy errors
• Mistakes in the operating room (e.g., operating on the wrong site)
• Surgical mistakes (e.g., spinal epidural abscesses, gallbladder surgery errors, & neurosurgical errors leading to paralysis)
• Plastic surgery errors
• Burn injuries
• Birth-related injuries related to infant jaundice, hip dysplasia, shoulder dystocia, or cerebral palsy
• Infections or sepsis contracted in hospitals
• Patient falls at hospitals, clinics, or provider offices
• Breach & disclosure of hospital data
• Malpractice in the emergency room
• Malpractice in VA hospitals

Medical Malpractice in Michigan

Medical malpractice is not uncommon in the United States today. In fact, according to John Hopkins University, it was the third leading cause of death in the United States in 2016. 

In Michigan, there are many examples of medical malpractice that may justify a lawsuit. 

What Qualifies as a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit in Michigan?

Generally speaking, most medical malpractice cases will likely fall into one of the following three categories:

1. Failure to Properly Diagnose a Medical Condition

There are serious consequences when a condition goes undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. In many cases, prompt and accurate diagnosis can save lives. If a health care provider misses an obvious diagnosis or does not diagnose a condition that other providers later identify, this could be the basis for a medical malpractice lawsuit.

2. Failure to Warn the Patients of Known Risks

When a health care provider recommends a certain treatment or surgery for a patient, they must also advise that patient of all of the known risks associated with the treatment or surgery. If a provider fails to do this, and a patient suffers such harm due to the treatment or surgery, the provider can be liable because the patient may well have declined the procedure or care had they known the risks ahead of time.

3. Improper or Poor Treatment

There are two possible scenarios here. First, a medical professional may deliver the proper treatment, but may do so in a poor or negligent manner (that fails to meet the requisite standard of care). Next, a medical professional may not deliver the proper treatment, instead choosing to ignore a serious issue altogether or to follow a course of action that no medical professional operating within the requisite standard of care would choose.

To learn more about medical malpractice law in Michigan, read our Basics of Medical Malpractice blog post.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schedule a Free Case Evaluation With Giroux Pappas Trial Attorneys

Giroux Pappas Trial Attorneys, formerly known as Giroux Trial Attorneys, prosecutes all types of medical malpractice claims in Michigan, and have even helped past clients win multimillion dollar settlements.

Whether your claim is against a surgeon, doctor, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, registered nurse, midwife, or another medical or health care provider, we will investigate your case. 

Our firm has been nationally recognized by the U.S. News (Best Lawyers & Best Law Firms), Martindale-Hubbell (2022 AV-rated for Ethical Standards & Legal Ability), and dBusiness (Top Lawyer). Additionally, we’re proud members of the Litigation and Negligence sections of the Michigan State Bar Association, the American Association for Justice, the Michigan Association for Justice, and the Oakland County Bar Association.

If you’re within our service area, contact Giroux Pappas Trial Attorneys today to request a free case evaluation and consultation.