Source: https://www.bpcounsel.com/medical-malpractice-attorney/
Timestamp: 2020-02-22 13:25:09
Document Index: 275614367

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 90', '§ 90', '§ 90', '§ 90', '§ 1', '§ 90', '§ 90']

The advancements in modern medicine have arguably been incredible. While modern medicine is far from perfect, the average life expectancy of our population has substantially risen in only decades, in large part due to innovations in knowledge, technology and treatment. These advancements have been cultivated through intense clinical research and experience by medical professionals over thousands of years. Like many Americans, we recognize the high value of medical professionals. But we’re also aware that they occasionally make mistakes.
Fortunately, patients that are injured by the mistakes of medical professionals have avenues to seek compensation for their injuries. The following blog is a general outline of Medical Malpractice Tort Claims in North Carolina. Please be aware that this area of the law is highly technical, detail-oriented and frequently requires the use of medical experts to pursue recourse for injuries. We strongly recommend that you seek the advice and counsel of a licensed Matthews Medical Malpractice Lawyer in regards to any potential Medical Malpractice claim that you may have at the earliest opportunity possible. This is to ensure that you file a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit (if appropriate for your case) within the applicable time period provided by the applicable Statute of Limitation for your case. This blog is not to be construed as legal advice.
N.C.G.S. § 90-21.11(2) defines a medical malpractice action as:
A civil action for damages for personal injury or death arising out of the furnishing or failure to furnish professional services in the performance of medical, dental, or other health care by a health care provider
A civil action against a hospital, a nursing home licensed under Chapter 131E of the General Statutes, or an adult care home licensed under Chapter 131D of the General Statutes for damages for personal injury or death, when the civil action (i) alleges a breach of administrative or corporate duties to the patient, including, but not limited to, allegations of negligent credentialing or negligent monitoring and supervision and (ii) arises from the same facts or circumstances as a claim under sub-subdivision a. of this subdivision.
This blog focuses on N.C.G.S. § 90-21.11(2)(a)- claims for personal injuries or death arising out of the furnishing or failure to furnish professional services in the performance of medical, dental, or other health care by a health care provider. We will discuss option B in a later blog.
Generally, in the pursuit of a medical malpractice claim, the injured patient must prove:
The applicable standard of care (for the procedure, diagnosis, treatment, etc. that medical professional owed to the patient)
A breach of the applicable standard of care by the defendant medical professional
That the breach was the proximate cause (legally foreseeable cause) of the patient’s injuries
The nature and amount of the patient’s damages. Please be aware that some negligence claims asserted against health care providers are not considered to be medical malpractice claims.
For example, in Lewis v. Setty, 130 N.C. App. 606, 503 S.E. 2d 673 (1998), the plaintiff alleged that the physician was negligent in failing to lower the examination table prior to transferring the plaintiff to his wheelchair. The North Carolina Court of Appeals held that this case was not a medical malpractice case, and thus, compliance with Rule 9(j) was not required because the cause of action did not arise out of the “furnishing of professional services” and therefore the case did not fit within the statutory definition of a medical malpractice action.
These damages include but are not limited to damages for pain and suffering and emotional distress. N.C.G.S. § 90-21.19(a) provides that generally, in any medical malpractice action in which the plaintiff is entitled to an award of noneconomic damages, the total amount of noneconomic damages for which judgment is entered against all defendants shall not exceed $500,000.00. (This amount is to be reviewed every three years in accordance with statutory requirements to account for inflation. The next review is to occur in 2020). N.C.G.S. § 90-21.19(b) provides that there shall be no limit on the amount of noneconomic damages entered against a defendant if the trier of fact finds both:
The plaintiff suffered disfigurement, loss of use of part of the body, permanent injury or death
The defendant’s acts or failures, which are the proximate cause of the plaintiff’s injuries, were committed in reckless disregard of the rights of others, grossly negligent, fraudulent, intentional or with malice.
These requirements are quite hefty in North Carolina. N.C.G.S. § 1A-1, Rule 9(j) of the North Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure provide: Any complaint alleging medical malpractice by a health care provider as defined in N.C.G.S. § 90-21.11 in failing to comply with the applicable standard of care under N.C.G.S. § 90-21.12 shall be dismissed unless:
The pleading specifically asserts that the medical care has been reviewed by a person who is reasonably expected to qualify as an expert witness under Rule 702 of the North Carolina Rules of Evidence and who is willing to testify that the medical care did not comply with the applicable standard of care (In other words, Rule 9(j) requires certification of expert review in the pleading)
The pleading specifically asserts that the medical care and all medical records pertaining to the alleged negligence that are available to the plaintiff after reasonable inquiry have been reviewed by a person that the complainant will seek to have qualified as an expert witness by motion under Rule 702(e) of the Rules of Evidence and who is willing to testify that the medical care did not comply with the applicable standard of care, and the motion is filed with the complaint; or
The pleading alleges facts establishing negligence under the existing common-law doctrine of res ipsa loquitur. In other words, your lawsuit will not proceed past its initial filing unless your pleading and pre-suit actions comply with Rule 9(j) of the North Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure.
This is a large reason why we strongly encourage you to seek a licensed Matthews Medical Malpractice Lawyer to evaluate your case at the earliest chance possible after you or a loved one incurs injuries that you believe were caused by a medical professional. As the statute states, you will be required to have your medical records reviewed by a competent medical professional to determine if a cause of action exists for medical malpractice. This determination by the competent medical professional should be made in conjunction with a licensed Matthews Medical Malpractice Lawyer.
As you can see, Medical Malpractice claims are a highly technical area of North Carolina Tort Law. Therefore, we strongly encourage you to seek the advice of a licensed Matthews Medical Malpractice Lawyer before you decide to pursue or not to pursue a claim for Medical Malpractice. To schedule a consultation today, contact Biazzo & Panchenko Law, PLLC. Due to the complex nature of Medical Malpractice Actions in North Carolina, your case will likely require further legal analysis beyond a consultation, which could require a nominal fee to complete. This blog is not to be construed as legal advice.