Syracuse Medical Malpractice and Personal Injury Lawyer Blog
Dealing with a medical injury can be daunting. If you or a loved one has suffered harm due to a hematologist’s negligence, you should consult a seasoned Syracuse hematologist malpractice attorney. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers, we are committed to pursuing the justice and compensation you need to move on with your life.
A hematologist is a doctor who specializes in the study of blood, blood-forming organs, and blood diseases. Generally, a hematologist treats patients with blood disorders, such as types of hemophilia, leukemia, lymphoma, and sickle cell anemia. Since blood runs through every organ and tissue in the body, hematology touches all fields of medicine. There are currently approximately 12,000 hematologists practicing throughout the United States.
While medical malpractice cases against hematologists are rare, they do happen. In one Michigan case, an anemic (i.e., iron deficient) woman sued her hematologist when he continued to prescribe her iron supplements and iron infusions, even though her iron deficiency no longer existed. As a result, the woman received more than three times the normal amount of iron supplements her condition required, leaving her with excessive iron deposits in her liver, spleen, and bone marrow. The only way to remove the excess iron was regular blood removal until the iron levels returned to normal. In such a case, had the hematologist monitored the iron levels throughout the woman’s treatment, the excess iron would not have been administered.
In a Florida case, a hematologist was sued after the plaintiffs claimed that the doctor failed to halt the patient’s anticoagulants after surgery, which ultimately led to a massive intracranial hemorrhage that killed the patient. While the jury did not find negligence in this case, it is an example of how malpractice cases against hematologists can arise.
New York law mandates that every patient within its borders is entitled to medical care that falls within the generally accepted standard of care developed by medical professionals. Medical malpractice or negligence typically involves a medical error. Specifically, malpractice occurs when a medical professional causes injuries by failing to use reasonable care under the circumstances. In other words, malpractice takes place when a medical professional deviates from the standard of care, thereby causing injuries or death to the patient.
Patients injured by medical malpractice in New York have two years and six months from the alleged malpractice to file a lawsuit in civil court. This is the general statute of limitations, and, in some cases, it can be extended. We can examine your case and figure out the legal deadlines in your case.
If you or someone close to you has suffered an injury due to a hematologist’s negligence, you need to reach out to a Syracuse medical malpractice attorney who can help. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers, our experienced medical malpractice attorneys can evaluate the facts of your case and help you determine your legal rights and options. Call us today to speak to one of our lawyers at 833-200-2000 or contact us online.
More Blog Posts:
Appendicitis Malpractice in Syracuse and New York, Syracuse Medical Malpractice and Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, March 29, 2018
Malpractice Resulting from Failure to Communicate in Syracuse, Syracuse Medical Malpractice and Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, March 22, 2018
