Delay in Medical Treatment – When Is It an Actionable Case?

delay-in-medical-treatment

Introduction

When you're sick or injured, you trust that medical professionals will do everything they can to help you. In many cases, they do. But sometimes, delays in treatment happen. And when those delays cause further injury or even death, it might be time to speak with a lawyer about your case. If you need clarification on whether a claim is actionable, this blog post is for you. We'll explore the different types of delays that can occur in medical treatment and when they cross the line into malpractice. By the end, you should better understand when you can take legal action against a medical professional or facility.

What is a Delay in Medical Treatment?

Delay in medical treatment can refer to a wide variety of situations in which patients do not receive timely access to healthcare services. This can include delays in receiving a diagnosis, delays in getting appointments with specialists, or delays in obtaining necessary treatments or surgeries. These delays can sometimes lead to serious health complications or even death.

Delays in medical treatment can occur for several reasons, including understaffed hospitals and clinics, scarcity of resources, and bureaucratic red tape. In many cases, the root cause of the delay is soon apparent. However, if the delay leads to severe harm or death, it may be considered an actionable case.

If you or someone you care about got hurt because of a delay in medical care, you may be able to get money. An experienced attorney can help you investigate the delay's circumstances and determine whether you have a valid claim.

When is a Delay in Medical Treatment an Actionable Case?

A delay in medical treatment can sometimes be an actionable case. If the delay in treatment causes you to suffer further harm, you may have a lawsuit against the hospital or doctor. To have a successful claim, you will need to show that the treatment delay was unreasonable and caused you additional harm.

If you believe you have suffered because of a delay in medical treatment, you should speak to a lawyer as soon as possible. They will be able to review your case and advise you on whether or not you have a claim.

Examples of Case Law Regarding a Delay in Medical Treatment

If you or a loved one has been injured due to a medical treatment delay, you may wonder if you have a case. Unfortunately, there is no easy answer as to whether or not you have an actionable claim. Every situation is different and must be evaluated on its own merits.

That being said, there are some examples of cases where delays in medical treatment have led to successful lawsuits. In one case, a woman went to the hospital with heart attack symptoms. She was given an EKG, which showed that she had an ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Despite this diagnosis, she was not seen by a cardiologist for six hours. During that time, she suffered irreversible damage to her heart muscle.

The woman sued the hospital for negligence and was awarded $2 million in damages. In another case, a man went to the emergency room with chest pain and shortness of breath. He was diagnosed with pulmonary embolism and was told that he needed immediate surgery. However, he was not taken to the operating room for two hours. As a result of the delay, his condition worsened, and he ultimately died from a pulmonary embolism.

In this case, the man's widow sued the hospital for negligence and was awarded $1 million in damages. These are just two examples of circumstances where delays in medical treatment led to successful lawsuits. If you believe that you or a loved one has been harmed

Conclusion

If you have been hurt by a doctor's mistake, you need to know what your legal rights and options are. In some cases, a delay in treatment can be grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit. A skilled lawyer can help you look into your case and figure out if you may be able to get money for your injuries.