When a plaintiff submits their medical malpractice claim, a panel of healthcare providers reviews it. This lengthy process is meant to eliminate potential claims and limit the volume of medical malpractice lawsuits in the court system.
During the review process, the panel considers whether or not the healthcare provider met the standard of care they owed to the plaintiff and if not whether it caused the harm. While a plaintiff can represent themselves during the process, they may benefit from the help of a St. Helena Parish medical malpractice lawyer when it comes to collecting the required documentation to support their claim.
Attorneys for the defendant have an opportunity to make their case during this process as well. Once the panel finishes reviewing the case, they would inform both parties of their decision, and the winning party must pay the costs for the panel. Regardless of the decision, a plaintiff has a right to file a suit after the review panel process is over.