SEATTLE MEDICAL MALPRACTICE ATTORNEY

MEDICAL MALPRACTICE IN SEATTLE

Medical professionals hold people’s lives in their hands, and because of this, they need to be held to a high standard of care. We trust that they have the education and skill to heal, not harm. Of course not every illness or injury can be cured, but it is the physician’s responsibility and sworn duty to take all reasonable steps to cure illness and alleviate suffering, and as the Hippocratic Oath says, do no harm. When a healthcare professional fails to live up to the standards required by the profession it is considered medical malpractice.

STANDARD OF CARE

Usually, medical professionals are diligent and meticulous in patient care, but there are those who fail to deliver the standard of care that is expected in their chosen profession. When a doctor, dentist, nurse, hospital, or clinic harms, or worse yet, kills a patient through medical error, that person, or the survivors of a person who has died because of medical incompetence, can pursue a legal action for medical malpractice against the responsible party.

Medical malpractice lawsuits are complex and challenging and should only be handled by a Washington attorney with specific experience and expertise in this demanding area of law. This ensures that the victim’s rights are protected at every stage of the legal process.

TIMELY FILING IS ESSENTIAL IN MEDICAL MALPRACTICE CASES

Medical malpractice lawsuits are subject to a statute of limitations, a statutory time frame within which a plaintiff must file suit in order to have a valid cause of action. In Washington, the statute of limitations in a medical malpractice case is three years.

If a lawsuit is not filed against a hospital, doctor, or any healthcare professional or facility within the three-year statutory period, the patient, or plaintiff, loses the right to sue for compensation in most cases. Therefore, it is important for a person who feels that he or she or a family member has been injured due to the negligence of a health care provider to consult an attorney with extensive experience in medical malpractice actions as soon as malpractice is suspected. If the statutory has passed, there are some limited circumstances in which a lawsuit is still possible, but you would need to consult a malpractice attorney to see if the statute can be extended, or “tolled” in a particular case.

HOW TO PURSUE A MONETARY RECOVERY FOR MEDICAL MALPRACTICE

If you feel that you have been harmed, or if someone in your family has died, because of a medical error that should not have happened, call the Seattle, Washington medical malpractice attorneys at Wattel and York for a thorough evaluation of your case with no cost or obligation. We have the knowledge, experience, commitment, and access to medical experts to establish the link between the negligent act or omission and the harmful treatment outcome. You need a team of experts on your side. Don’t worry about the cost . . .we work with you on a contingency fee arrangement, so you pay nothing out of pocket.