The doctors and hospitals that care for you have a duty to care for your safety and well being. If they do not care for you the same way a reasonable person would (standard of care), they have breached their duty of care to you. If you suffered serious injury or death because of their breach of duty regarding your care, they have provided you with medically negligent care.
Causes of Serious Injuries or Death
There are many instances in which serious injury or death can result from medical negligence. These may include, but are not limited to:
· Errors during surgery
· Failure to diagnose a patient/misdiagnosis of a patient
· Improper administration of anesthesia
· Improper medical procedures used
· Improper medication
· Improperly treated burns
· Inefficient labor and delivery care
· Insufficient medication
· Poor usage instructions for medication
Areas of Medical Negligence
There are many types of medical negligence, such as:
· Birth injuries
· Breast Cancer
· Cerebral Palsy
· HIV
· Meningitis
· Nursing home neglect
· Orthopedics
· Spinal injury
· Still birth
Statute of Limitations
Unfortunately, there is only a limited amount of time for you to file a medical negligence suit. In Florida, you must file suit under three different time limits:
1. Within 2 years of discovering the medical negligence (for minors 8 and over and adults)
2. Within 4 years of the occurrence of the medical negligence (for minors 8 and over and adults)
3. For infants, the limit is the greater of either the date of their 8th birthday or the above two statutes of limitations
