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Columbia, SC Medical Malpractice Attorneys
Fighting to get South Carolina victims and families the full compensation they deserve
Patients understand that the healing process takes time. They know doctors and hospitals cannot perform miracles; however, doctors and hospitals are supposed to meet national standards of medical care. Patients should not come out of a medical procedure or treatment worse than before they received medical care. When medical malpractice occurs, patients have the right to demand payment for all the physical, financial, and emotional harm that ensues.
Medical malpractice cases are tough to prove because the healthcare providers rarely, if ever, admit to their own mistakes. At McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips, LLC, our Columbia medical malpractice and personal injury lawyers have the experience and resources to tackle these complex cases.
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What types of medical malpractice cases does your firm handle?
Victims of medical malpractice may sometimes die. Survivors can suffer catastrophic problems, such as brain trauma, that require around the clock care. Many patients are never able to work again or enjoy life in the same way as they did before the malpractice occurred. These people all deserve to be compensated for wrongful medical acts.
Some of the many types of medical malpractice cases our attorneys handle include:
- Errors in diagnosis. Errors can occur because doctors fail to prescribe the right tests, interpret the results incorrectly, or fail to listen to the patient. An incorrect diagnosis usually means faulty treatment. Common diagnostic errors include the failure to diagnose cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and infections.
- Emergency room errors. ER doctors often fail to provide timely care, get a complete medical history, monitor the patient, or admit the patient to the hospital. Many patients get substandard treatment that causes serious harm.
- Surgical errors. Mistakes in the surgery room can include operating on the wrong patient, operating on the wrong body part, using the wrong tools, using unclean equipment, leaving devices inside the patient, and general failure to use the right medical procedures.
- Hospital errors. Hospitals should take reasonable steps to avoid infections, keep proper medical records, avoid spreading contagious diseases, properly train medical staff, and keep sterile equipment.
- Prescription errors. Medication errors include dosages that are too strong or too weak, drugs that improperly react with other drugs the patient is using, and failing to warn about side effects. Other drug errors include failing to consider allergic reactions or administering the medication improperly.
- Failure to get informed consent. Doctors are required to advise patients of the risks of surgeries and treatments. Physicians and the hospitals they work for must get an informed consent from a patient before they begin to operate on or treat the patient.
Our Columbia medical malpractice attorneys have been advocating for healthcare victims for many years. Our firm brings claims against hospitals, doctors, nurses, medical technicians, pharmacists, medical companies, and other healthcare providers and suppliers. We work with independent medical professionals to determine the cause of the medical malpractice.
I worked with Chance on my case and I truly cannot sing his praises enough. He kept me informed on the progress of my case, provided me with the facts and his honest, professional opinion throughout the entire process....
What is informed consent?
Patients are required to provide what’s called “informed consent” before undergoing any medical procedure or treatment. This means signing documents indicating you’ve been informed of the procedure you’ll be undergoing, as well as its risks, possible side effects, and potential outcomes. It also gives your doctor permission to perform the procedure, as consent can also include the permission to allow your medical provider to physically touch you.
If you or your loved one suffer injury from medical treatment for which you didn’t provide consent, your doctor may have committed malpractice. The experienced attorneys at McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips can provide guidance.
How safe are local Columbia, SC hospitals?
The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is a consumer service provided by the Leapfrog Group. It offers safety data and ratings for hospitals across the country with the goal of improving transparency and safety in the national hospital system. Here are the current ratings for Columbia, South Carolina’s local hospitals and medical centers:
- Prisma Health Baptist: C
- Providence Health: B
- Prisma Health Richland: C
- Lexington Medical Center: A
- Prisma Health Baptist Parkridge: A
Each link goes to a more detailed listing with further data for surgery errors, infections, and other safety issues.
How do I know if I have a medical malpractice claim?
Not all medical mistakes are malpractice. In order to have a successful medical negligence claim, you must be able to prove the following:
- Existence of a patient-doctor relationship
- Proof of negligent care
- Link between that negligence and your injury
- Proof of damages from your injury
Our Columbia attorneys can review your medical situation and injuries to determine the strength of your claim – and then protect your right to compensation.
Speak with a trusted Columbia medical malpractice lawyer today
The attorneys at McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips, LLC understand the pain and anxiety patients and families go through when medical help turns into a medical disaster. We know how life-altering one medical mistake, one failed diagnosis, or one improper treatment can be. If you or a loved one has suffered because of medical negligence, please phone us now at 803-327-7800 or complete our contact form to schedule a free case review at our Columbia, South Carolina office.