A Chicago, Illinois couple received an 8.25 million dollar settlement in April 2012 for the wrongful death of their newborn, Genesis Burkett. Born in 2010, Genesis Burkett died as the result of a mistake made by the pharmacy when his infant IV bag was accidently filled with 60 times the prescribed dosage of an electrolyte transfusion.
As a result of the incident, baby Burkett’s parents filed a lawsuit charging wrongful death against the hospital where the incident occurred. Nineteen months later, baby Burkett’s parents prevailed in the lawsuit and received compensation in the amount of 8.25 million dollars.
A Wrongful Death Action May Be a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Depending upon the Circumstances of the Offence
A wrongful death suit falls under the legal category of medical malpractice. In Ottawa, a medical malpractice is a complex legal claim to pursue. Primarily consisting of the charges of negligence or a failure to get an informed consent to proceed, medical malpractice cases are paper intensive and may take two to five years to complete.
Negligence is the claim in a medical malpractice case when a doctor or healthcare provider fails to give a particular standard of care in a certain medical situation. If that negligence causes illness or injures that are long term and without precedence in the medical community, you may have a medical malpractice claim. While not liable for every mistake, doctors and other healthcare providers must be held accountable when they fail to use reasonable and excepted practices in your treatment.
Compensation Available for Medical Malpractice Claims in Ottawa
Should you have adequate proof to validate your negligence claim you may be able to receive compensation for a various financial damages you have suffered. Some of that compensation may come in the form of:
- Lost earnings
- Medical expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Attendant care
- Other expenses that you wouldn’t normally have had you not suffered injury.
One thing to always be conscious of should you think you may be the victim of malpractice is that in Ottawa there are time limits on the time you have to file a malpractice lawsuit. Typically, a medical malpractice lawsuit must be filed within two years of when the injury occurred. This time limit is referred to as the limitations period. So, the sooner you consult with an experienced Ottawa medical malpractice lawyer after the incident the better.
Contact the Knowledgeable, Experienced Medical Malpractice Lawyers at Girones Lawyers
The knowledgeable, experienced medical malpractice lawyers at Girones Lawyers are Ottawa lawyers you can count on to give you an honest assessment of your potential medical malpractice case. Contact us today for a free consultation.
