Wayne County Medical Malpractice Victims’ Rights in Michigan

Patients in Wayne County have certain rights when seeking and obtaining medical care. A healthcare provider has a legal duty to honor a patient’s rights. If a medical professional makes a mistake or violates your legal rights, they may be liable through a medical malpractice lawsuit.

At Sommers Schwartz, P.C., our dedicated team of attorneys has more than 45 years of experience aggressively pursuing compensation for patients in Wayne County who suffered preventable injuries due to a provider’s negligence.

What Are Wayne County Patients’ Rights?

You are entitled to certain rights when you visit the doctor, regardless of any communications you have with the provider. A patient’s rights come from several sources, including under Michigan state law and through numerous court decisions. Some of your rights as a patient include:

• The right to privacy.
• The right to receive treatment with respect and dignity.
• The right to have your religious or spiritual beliefs recognized.
• The right to ask questions about any medical care.
• The right to a clear explanation about the risks of a procedure.
• The right to all information necessary to make an informed healthcare decision.
• The right to be free from neglect or mistreatment.

This is not a complete list, but it illustrates that patients hold many rights that medical professionals must respect.

What Is Medical Malpractice?

Medical professionals such as doctors, dentists, nurses, pharmacists, and physical therapists are legally obligated to provide patients with appropriate medical care. Part of this obligation includes honoring patients’ rights. But healthcare workers are human, and humans make mistakes.

Medical errors are one of the leading causes of preventable injury and death in the United States. According to some estimates, over 250,000 people die from preventable medical errors yearly, and hundreds of thousands of others suffer life-changing injuries. Some of the most common medical mistakes involve:

• Failure to prevent infections.
• Medication errors.
• Misdiagnoses and delayed diagnoses.
• Misreading test results.
• Providing poor follow-up care.
• Surgical errors.

Patients suffering preventable or worsening injuries after a medical procedure have additional rights. One of these is the right to pursue a medical malpractice lawsuit.

Patients who suffer new or worsening injuries after seeking medical treatment have a legal right to pursue a claim for monetary compensation against the provider they believe was responsible for their injuries. While every patient experience is different, every medical malpractice case must follow a similar legal framework. For example, to successfully bring a medical malpractice claim in Wayne County, a patient must establish these elements:

• The existence of a doctor-patient relationship.
• The doctor violated the standard of care.
• The patient suffered an injury due to the doctor’s violation.
• The patient sustained legally recognizable damages because of the surgical error.

Patients generally have two years from the date of malpractice to file a lawsuit in Wayne County. However, in some circumstances where a patient was initially unaware they were injured due to medical malpractice, the patient can file a lawsuit within six months of discovering their potential claim. There are special exceptions when medical malpractice impacts a minor child or causes a death which can extend the time to bring a claim.

How Sommers Schwartz Helps Patients Recover Through Wayne County Medical Malpractice Claims

You likely have many questions if you recently learned that a medical provider rendered negligent medical care. Was the provider’s error the cause of your injuries? Where should you obtain follow-up care? What can you do about their mistake? Can you hold them financially accountable? If so, how do you start the process?

At Sommers Schwartz, our nationally recognized medical malpractice lawyers have extensive experience helping patients and their families effectively bring claims against all healthcare providers. Respect is the foundation upon which any successful case rests. Thus, we treat each client professionally, making ourselves available whenever you need to discuss your case.

We are also committed to transparency in every aspect of our representation. Thus, when you meet with us for a free consultation, we will provide you with an honest assessment of your case. We also accept medical malpractice cases on a contingency basis, meaning you only pay for our services if we can get you the compensation you deserve.

Schedule a Free Consultation with the Wayne County Medical Malpractice Lawyers at Sommers Schwartz, P.C.

If you or a loved one suffered injuries or complications relating to recent medical treatment or believe that a healthcare provider’s actions made an existing injury worse, contact the dedicated Wayne County medical malpractice lawyers at Sommers Schwartz, P.C.

We have a nationwide reputation for excellence in medical negligence claims, and our attorneys are some of the country’s most highly experienced and skilled medical malpractice lawyers. With our help, you can hold the negligent medical provider accountable for your injuries while pursuing meaningful compensation for yourself and your family. To learn more and schedule a free consultation with a Michigan medical malpractice lawyer, call Sommers Schwartz, P.C., at 800-783-0989 today.