Medical Malpractice Lawyer in Fort Worth

Our medical malpractice lawyer in Fort Worth offers clients legal guidance on matters related to medical malpractice, medical errors, brain injuries, nursing home abuse, birth injuries, and more.

Facts about Fort Worth, Texas

Fort Worth is the fifth largest city in Texas. It is the 13th largest city in the United States. Forth Worth is a large city that takes up part of four counties. Fort Worth is the county seat of Tarrant County, but also resides in Denton, Parker, and Wise counties. It is the second largest city in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), and has a population of more than 895,000 people.

Fort Worth has a very diverse population, comprised of:

• Caucasian – 41.7%
• Hispanic – 34.1%
• African American – 18.9%
• Asian – 3.7%

Fort Worth is consistently rated one of the top cities in the United States to watch. It is considered a great place for young professionals and families. There are several universities in Fort Worth, including Texas A&M University School of Law, and the University of North Texas Health Science Center. Fort Worth is also home to notable corporations like Lockheed Martin, American Airlines, and BNSF Railway.

Similar to Dallas, Fort Worth is known for its healthcare resources. Baylor University Medical Center and Parkland Memorial Hospital both have a presence in Fort Worth. Both of these medical systems are considerable size and account for about 15% of the economic activity in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Medical Malpractice Lawyer in Fort Worth

When you seek medical attention from a doctor, urgent care, or hospital, you are entitled to receive a certain level of care. The healthcare industry has certain standards and guidelines for diagnosing and treating patients. When healthcare providers fail to meet these standards and you are injured as a result, you may be entitled to compensation.

Medical malpractice cases take knowledge, skill, and experience.

Injuries Caused by Medical Malpractice

There are many possible scenarios that may result in medical negligence or medical malpractice claims. A sad reality is that the injuries caused by medical negligence can often be prevented if healthcare providers follow the standards of care. Some of the scenarios that frequently lead to medical malpractice claims involve:

• Failure to diagnose
• Misdiagnosis
• Anesthesia errors
• Retained surgical objects
• Brain damage
• Cerebral palsy
• Pressure ulcers

Diagnostic Errors and Medical Malpractice

Diagnostic errors are considered one of the largest sources of medical malpractice claims. Between 2013 and 2017, 33% of all medical malpractice claims filed in the United States were attributed to diagnostic errors.

Around half of the claims related to diagnostic errors involved poor clinical decision-making. Thirty-three percent of these claims involved a healthcare provider failing to properly evaluate the patient, or failing to obtain an adequate medical history and medical records. Of the claims filed, around 52% involved diagnostic errors related to laboratory tests, including the wrong test being ordered, the test being improperly done, or the results being misinterpreted.

How Can Diagnostic Errors be Prevented?

Research on diagnostic errors continues to highlight the significance of medical errors and a more focused area of concern on diagnosis and related clinical procedure and decision-making. Researchers have noted that misdiagnoses often occur due to healthcare providers being overworked, understaffed, or having inadequate resources to make a thorough diagnosis.

Researchers recommend healthcare providers use a team-based approach when making a diagnosis or addressing difficult healthcare matters. A team-based approach can offer opinion and expertise of a team of healthcare providers, which often results in a correct diagnosis. If healthcare providers are unsure, they should seek the advice of their colleagues who may have more experience, training, or a unique perspective.

Another way that diagnostic errors can be prevented is by reducing the pressure placed on doctors to keep visits with patients short.  Many readers will recall instances of their doctor hurrying through the diagnostic process, or even leaving the room before all questions were answered. This is a dangerous practice that puts patients at risk. Healthcare providers must prioritize, but also must pay adequate attention to each and every patient.

What to Do after a Diagnostic Error

If you have been improperly diagnosed, or your health was negatively affected by a delayed diagnosis, you may have many questions about what you can do. It is natural to feel vulnerable, emotional, and frustrated after experiencing a medical error.

The best way to get answers and sort through your situation is to contact a medical malpractice lawyer. A medical malpractice lawyer in Fort Worth can help you understand your legal rights as a patient, as well as the legal responsibilities of healthcare providers. A skilled lawyer can also provide you with options for defending your rights and pursuing justice.

Birth Injury Lawyer in Fort Worth

Birth injuries have a tremendous impact on the victim and his or her family. Not only are there physical and emotional consequences, but birth injuries also commonly cause financial hardship. When birth injuries are caused by negligence on the part of a doctor, nurse, or other healthcare provider, the victim’s family may be entitled to financial compensation.

Common Injuries Occurring During Birth

• Nerve injury leading to paralysis
• Broken bones
• Oxygen deprivation causing damage to the brain or organs
• Brain damage leading to cerebral palsy
• Umbilical cord misplacement or strangulation

Medical negligence is the term used when a healthcare provider’s care falls outside medically accepted standards. Examples of medical negligence that cause birth injuries include:

• Improper use of forceps or vacuums
• Failing to order a c-section in a timely manner
• Failing to monitor vital signs
• Using too much force during delivery
• Improper use or administration of medications

Birth injuries associated with medical negligence can lead to chronic illness, physical disabilities, or even death.

At MedMalFirm.com, our medical malpractice lawyer in Fort Worth helps families affected by medical negligence and birth injuries. If your child was injured during birth, contact us to find out if you are eligible to file a birth injury lawsuit.

When healthcare providers fail to meet the standards of care, patient lives are put at risk.

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer in Fort Worth

Residents of nursing homes are often completely reliant on their caregivers for even their most basic needs, so it is wise to keep a close watch on the quality of care your loved one is receiving and to take action immediately if you see anything amiss. If you find yourself with questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to contact MedMalFirm.com and speak with our medical malpractice lawyer in Fort Worth.

When visiting a nursing home, there are a few things that you can take note of, which could indicate how well the nursing home is doing at providing quality care. Some of the most important things to pay attention to include:

Understaffed or Under-trained Staff 

If you notice the workers in the nursing home always seem over-tasked and overwhelmed, your loved one might not be getting the attention and care that he or she needs.

Dramatically Worsening Medical Conditions 

Nursing home staff is responsible for distributing and administering medication, even for coaxing disinclined residents into taking their medication on time and at the right dosage. If your loved one has an ailment that seems to be failing to respond to treatment, or has suddenly gotten worse, that may be cause for alarm.

Unusual Financial Activity 

Some nursing homes will help monitor a residents spending, but sudden changes in spending patterns, new accounts opened, bills left unpaid, or even changes to a will can indicate that your loved one has been tricked or taken advantage of by his or her caregivers.

Injuries 

A heartbreaking reality of nursing homes is that some caregivers will take advantage of a resident’s physical weakness to literally push them around and cause physical harm. Always ask your loved one and their caregivers about any falls, bruises, cuts, bleeding, or burns you notice. The nursing home’s main responsibility is the safety of your loved one, and any incident that causes physical damage should have a verifiable explanation.

Bedsores 

If your loved one requires mobility assistance, nursing home staff should regularly turn and reposition him or her to prevent bedsores from forming. Failing to do so is neglect.

If you are visiting your loved one and find yourself concerned about these or other situations, contact MedMalFirm.com right away. Victims of nursing home abuse are unlikely to speak up for themselves because of threats they may have received from their abusers or because of embarrassment. They rely on their family and friends to know the signs, speak up, and take action when abuse is suspected.

What to Do if You Suspect Nursing Home Abuse

• Talk to your loved one about your concerns.
• Get advice from your healthcare provider.
• Contact a nursing home abuse or medical malpractice lawyer in Fort Worth.
• Contact adult protective services (APS).
• If there is immediate danger, call 911.

Nursing home residents deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. Anything less is unacceptable and should not be tolerated.

Pressure Ulcer Lawyer in Fort Worth

A decubitus ulcer, also called a pressure ulcer or bedsore, is an injury that occurs when too much pressure builds up on a certain part of the body. This is most common among hospital patients, nursing home residents, and individuals confined to a wheelchair or bed. Built up pressure can cause skin to become irritated and break down, eventually causing an open wound to form if the injury is not properly treated.

presssure ulcers are almost always preventable. Healthcare providers and caregivers are given the knowledge, tools, and guidelines necessary to prevent ulcers from developing. They are also given guidelines for how to manage ulcers that do occur. Unfortunately, it seems that these guidelines are often thrown to the wayside.

Examples of Negligent Care Leading to Decubitus Ulcers

• Allowing patients to sit/lay in the same position for extended periods of time
• Failing to ensure linens and clothing are changed and cleaned.
• Allowing patients to become malnourished or dehydrated.
• Failing to respond to skin irritation or inflammation early on.
• Recognizing a developing ulcer but failing to get medical attention.

The prevalence of preventable injuries like decubitus ulcers is alarming. Victims of healthcare negligence deserve justice.

If a family member has developed a pressure ulcer in a Forth Worth hospital or nursing home, there is no doubt that you want answers. That is where MedMalFirm.com can help. Our medical malpractice lawyer in Fort Worth has experience investigating and litigating pressure ulcer claims. We can investigate the treatment your loved one received and determine whether your family has a legal claim against the facility.

If neglect or abuse has occurred, you may be able to recover compensation for your loved one’s medical expenses and suffering. Choosing to proceed with a pressure ulcer lawsuit can help you recover damages, and can help prevent others from suffering similar injuries.

Is a Pressure Ulcer Serious?

A pressure ulcer is a serious injury that should not occur if your loved one is receiving the basic standard of care. For a pressure ulcer to form, your loved one must remain in the same position with unrelieved pressure on the affected skin for an extended period of time. The progression of the sore from slight irritation to an oozing open wound is slow and painful.

Unless your family member has a clinical condition which makes the formation of pressure ulcers unavoidable, the appearance of these open sores almost certainly indicates neglect.

Is a Pressure Ulcer Dangerous?

If diagnosed and treated in a timely manner, many pressure ulcers will heal without incident. However, without proper treatment, a stage 1 or stage 2 treatable wound can quickly worsen to state 3 or stage 4. As with any open wound, a stage 3 or 4 pressure ulcer leaves the victim susceptible to infection and serious complications like sepsis.

What’s more, stage 3 and 4 pressure ulcers must often be treated surgically, which increases the risk of complications. Depending on your loved one’s overall state of health, pressure ulcers and treatment options like surgery can be potentially risky.

Complications of Pressure Ulcers

• Bone and joint infections
• Cellulitis
• Sepsis
• Cancer
• Gangrene
• Amputation

Pressure ulcers are a very dangerous injury that can easily prove fatal.

What Should I do if My Loved One Has Developed a Pressure Ulcer?

Seek medical attention for a pressure ulcer immediately. Early diagnosis and treatment is the best way of preventing complications and preserving your loved one’s health. Next, contact a medical malpractice lawyer in Fort Worth to discuss your case.

An experienced lawyer will know all the right questions to ask and all the important records to gather. Moreover, they may know whether the hospital or nursing home where your loved one was injured has a reputation for neglect, or has any outstanding neglect claims.

When to Call a Medical Malpractice Lawyer in Fort Worth

If you or a loved one are suffering from what you believe is medical malpractice or negligence, it is never too soon to contact a medical malpractice lawyer in Fort Worth. Explore your legal rights and possible options as soon as possible. Your family should not suffer due to the negligence of others.

At MedMalFirm.com, we help clients who have been injured by negligent healthcare providers, hospitals and nursing homes. We have successfully helped clients protect their rights and recover compensation in cases involving medical negligence, surgical errors, birth injuries, defective medical devices, nursing home abuse, and more. 

Find out how we can help you by contacting us for a free consultation with our medical malpractice lawyer in Fort Worth. Call 877-887-4850, or fill out our online form to get started.