Improper Treatment

Competent medical care is multi-faceted. In other words, to properly care for a patient, a physician typically must not only obtain a full health history and conduct a thorough examination, but also must provide the treatment that is appropriate to address the patient’s health issues. In other words, even if a doctor provides a patient with the correct diagnosis, the doctor may still cause patient harm by providing improper treatment. If you were injured by a doctor’s inappropriate care, you may be owed compensation and should speak to a lawyer regarding your rights. The Cape Cod medical malpractice attorneys of the Law Offices of John C. Manoog, III, are dedicated to helping people injured by incompetent medical care seek damages for their losses, and we will fight tirelessly on your behalf. Collectively, we have over fifteen decades of experience pursuing claims in the Massachusetts courts, and our knowledgeable representation has allowed us to obtain several multimillion-dollar damages awards for our clients.

When a patient has an illness or chronic condition, a physician will typically prescribe treatment to alleviate the patient’s symptoms or treat the underlying disease. For example, if a patient has diabetes, the doctor treating the patient will typically prescribe the patient medication to help regulate the level of glucose in the patient’s blood. If a doctor fails to employ an appropriate treatment, however, the underlying illness will often progress, which typically leads to significant health issues. Treatment may not only be improper because it is insufficient to treat a condition but also if it poses a risk of harm to the patient that does not outweigh the benefit of the treatment. Prescribing drugs or utilizing treatments that are not approved by the agencies that regulate drugs, or using a drug or treatment for an unapproved purpose can cause serious health concerns as well.

Generally, a doctor that fails to provide a patient with proper treatment may be liable for medical malpractice. Under Massachusetts law, a plaintiff alleging that a doctor’s improper treatment constitutes negligence first must establish the standard of care to which the doctor must adhere, which usually requires expert testimony. In broad terms, though, the standard of care that applies is the care that a reasonable doctor in the same practice area, with equivalent experience and training would provide under the same set of facts.

After a plaintiff produces evidence of the standard of care, the plaintiff must show that the defendant departed from the standard of care by providing improper treatment, which typically requires expert testimony as well. Finally, the plaintiff must show that he or she would not have suffered harm if the defendant did not breach the duty owed and that the breach of the standard of care caused the plaintiff to incur actual damages.

Plaintiffs harmed by improper treatment may be entitled to recover the cost of any medical care needed to address the harm caused by the treatment, the cost of future care, lost wages, and damages meant to compensate for the mental trauma, suffering, and physical pain caused by the defendant’s negligence.

Doctors have a duty to provide patients with thorough and competent treatment, and when they breach that duty it often has grave consequences. If you were injured by improper treatment, it is advisable to meet with an attorney to discuss your potential claims. The medical malpractice lawyers of the Law Offices of John C. Manoog, III, take pride in helping people who suffered harm due to negligent treatment seek justice via civil lawsuits, and we will help you assert your legal rights. We have a history of obtaining favorable outcomes, many of which resulted in substantial damages awards. We assist people in lawsuits in Cape Cod and can also meet by appointment in Hyannis and Plymouth. You can reach us at (888) 262-6664 or through our online form to set up a meeting. Nós Falamos Português.