Pediatrician Malpractice

While people used to rely on one doctor to treat their entire families, many people understand that children have different medical needs than adults and choose to entrust the care of their children to pediatricians. While pediatric doctors undergo specialized training to be able to provide competent treatment to younger people, like other doctors, they can make mistakes that harm rather than help their patients. If your child sustained an injury or illness due to pediatrician malpractice, you should consult a lawyer to determine whether you may be able to assert a claim for damages. The knowledgeable Cape Cod medical malpractice attorneys of The Law Offices of John C. Manoog, III, are practiced at handling the complexities of cases arising out of medical negligence, and we will fight to help you recover any compensation you may be owed. We have more than fifteen decades of joint experience representing injured parties in the Massachusetts courts, and we have recovered numerous multi-million dollar damages awards for our clients.

There are numerous acts and omissions that may constitute pediatric malpractice. For example, a doctor may fail to notice that a child is suffering from developmental delays and may not provide a proper diagnosis of a condition such as cerebral palsy or autism spectrum disorder in a timely manner. Similarly, a doctor may disregard concerning symptoms, and a child may not receive appropriate tests or treatment, which can cause an acute illness such as pneumonia or appendicitis to go undiagnosed. Regardless of whether a child is suffering from an acute or chronic condition, a timely diagnosis is essential, as delays can lead to permanent harm. Improperly prescribed or administered medications and vaccines can cause substantial injuries as well.

Doctors who cause harm to their patients typically do so inadvertently rather than intentionally. Thus, in most pediatrician malpractice cases, the plaintiff will allege that the defendant doctor was negligent. Under Massachusetts law, to prove negligence in a malpractice case, the plaintiff must first establish that the defendant owed the plaintiff a duty and that the defendant acted or failed to act in a manner that represents a breach of the duty. The duty owed by a pediatrician to a patient is the duty to comply with the standard of care, which is the care that a competent physician that practices in the same field would render in a similar situation. As the standard of care that applies to doctors is typically beyond the understanding of the average person, in most pediatric malpractice cases, the plaintiff will need to engage an expert to explain the applicable standard and the ways in which the defendant breached the standard.

After a plaintiff establishes the duty owed and a breach of that duty, it must then be shown that the defendant’s breach brought about actual harm. In other words, the breach must be a significant factor in bringing about the plaintiff’s damages, and the plaintiff must show that he or she would not have been harmed absent the breach, which typically requires expert testimony as well. A plaintiff that proves harm due to pediatric malpractice may be awarded compensation for medical and out of pocket expenses, emotional trauma, and the suffering and pain endured due to the defendant’s negligence.

When doctors who care for children are careless, such as with a misdiagnosis, it can cause lasting and significant harm, and anyone injured by a negligent pediatrician should speak with a lawyer regarding what damages may be available. The experienced attorneys of The Law Offices of John C. Manoog, III, are skilled at proving incompetent doctors should be held liable for the harm they caused. If we represent you, we will fight tirelessly to help you seek a just outcome. Our zealous advocacy has allowed us to uphold a record of successful outcomes, including many settlements and verdicts in excess of one million dollars. We regularly represent parties in malpractice cases on Cape Cod and are available to meet for conferences in Plymouth and Hyannis. You can contact us to set up a conference at 888-262-6664 or via our online form. Nós Falamos Português.