Overview
Every year, hundreds of thousands of people are injured or die because of medical errors. These errors can be the result of overwork, poor judgment, inexperience, lack of training, inadequate staffing, or just plain carelessness.
These errors happen in just about any medical setting, including nursing homes, hospitals, and doctor’s offices. When these errors occur, they are often devastating. Some medical errors that may be caused by the negligence of a provider include:
- Injury to baby or mother following childbirth
- Misdiagnosis or delay in the diagnosis of cancer, such as breast cancer, colon cancer or skin cancer
- Surgical and anesthesia errors
- Failure to diagnose serious medical conditions, such as heart attacks and strokes
- Medication errors
- Improper supervision of patients that are at risk for falling or choking
- Abuse and/or neglect of elders
However, not every bad medical outcome is due to the negligence of a healthcare provider. People sometimes die or are injured even when they receive good medical treatment. Finding out whether you or your loved one has been a victim of medical negligence is often a difficult task. Medical records are complicated, and medical providers don’t readily acknowledge their errors. You need experienced lawyers who understand the science and who have relationships with medical experts.
Sheff & Cook brings decades of litigation experience to each client’s case, as well as relationships with key specialists who can be called in to assist in settlement or testify if a medical negligence case goes to trial. Our team works with doctors around the country to utilize cutting-edge testing and advanced technology which can make all the difference in proving your case by allowing us to visually demonstrate your injuries to a judge, jury, insurance company, even if those injuries aren’t visible on the surface.
In addition, we recognize that the long-term effects of serious injury caused by medical negligence can last a lifetime and we develop detailed long-term plans for our clients to help them get the results they need to cover future living and treatment expenses.
Additional Information
Types of Medical Errors
Medical errors can pose a threat to both patient and public health. These errors typical fall into two categories:
- Errors of omission, where an error is a result of an action not being taken
- Errors of commission, where an error is a result of the incorrect action being taken
Any medical error may qualify as medical negligence if it is the result of a failure to meet the reasonably expected standard of care of an average, qualified healthcare worker looking after a patient in question within similar circumstances.
Causes of Medical & Nursing Home Negligence
Medical and nursing home negligence can stem from a variety of causes:
- Technical failures of medical equipment
- Deficiencies in education and/or training
- Inadequate practice policies and/or guidance
- Lack of procedural consistency
- Inadequate staffing and/or poor supervision
- Inadequate practice administration and/or patient identification
- Provider arrogance or carelessness
- Inadequate or ineffective reporting systems
Any one of these may be the basis for a civil case. Sheff & Cook is dedicated to uncovering the underlying cause of our clients’ injuries and holding the responsible party accountable.
Sheff & Cook’s Approach
Every medical and nursing home negligence case at Sheff & Cook is handled by a team of lawyers and specialists who will guide you and your family through each step of the legal process. We communicate quickly and we provide additional assistance beyond your legal representation. When you choose Sheff & Cook as your Boston medical and nursing home negligence attorney, you get a team that delivers the highest levels of service with the utmost compassion and care for your well-being.
