Injured By Physician Negligence? Our Firm Will Fight For Your Rights.

To err is human, and all of us make mistakes from time to time. Doctors are no different, except that when they make mistakes, the consequences can be catastrophic or fatal for patients. It is also important to differentiate between an honest mistake made in good faith and one attributable to negligence.

At Shevlin Smith, P.C., we fight for victims who have been harmed by the negligence of physicians and other medical providers. With over 70 years of combined legal experience, our medical malpractice attorneys have long been a trusted resource for clients in northern Virginia and Washington, D.C.

Examples Of Medical Errors And Negligence

There are countless acts and behaviors by medical providers that might constitute negligence. Some of the most common examples include:

• Failure to monitor patients at critical times, such as when they are in the ICU or have just come out of surgery
• Misdiagnosing or failing to diagnose life-threatening medical conditions like cancer and heart attack
• Treating a patient without obtaining informed consent
• Improper use of medical devices
• Errors in prescribing or administering drugs (wrong medication, wrong dosage, etc.)
• Discharging a patient prematurely or failing to admit a patient in critical condition
• Surgical errors such as leaving tools inside the patient or operating on the wrong body part
• Failure to order appropriate diagnostic tests or to follow up on test results
• Failure to follow hygiene protocols, resulting in the spread of serious infections
• Failure to order a timely C-section in response to fetal distress, endangering both the mother and the baby

We discuss additional examples and related ideas on our medical malpractice page.

What It Takes To Prove Physician Negligence And Liability

You may know that your physician acted negligently, but you will still need to prove it to a jury if your case goes to trial. In Virginia, there are three criteria you must satisfy in order to establish medical malpractice. They include:

1. The physician owed a duty of care and breached the accepted standard of care. The physician was negligent because they failed to deliver the level and quality of care that a competent physician would have provided under the same circumstances.
2. You suffered injury or a loved one was killed due to physician negligence. If the doctor’s conduct did not result in any injuries, there would be no cause for a legal claim. You must demonstrate injury or death as a direct result of the physician’s negligence.
3. The injury or death resulted in significant damages. In legal terminology, damages refers to harms and losses that deserve compensation. They may include medical bills, the death of a loved one, pain and suffering, lost wages, permanent disability and more.

The first element mentioned above is often the hardest to prove. It requires considerable skill and knowledge, as well as the willingness to conduct rigorous research. Our attorneys are ready to give your case the care and attention it deserves from start to finish.

Reach Out Today For A Free Discussion About Your Case

Shevlin Smith, P.C., offers free consultations to prospective clients in Fairfax, Virginia, and surrounding areas, including Washington, D.C. To schedule yours, you can submit an online contact form or call us at 703-634-7350.