Medical Malpractice Attorney – Louisiana
When a healthcare provider’s negligence causes you harm, Louisiana law gives you specific rights — but the clock starts ticking immediately.
Medical malpractice cases are among the most complex personal injury claims. They require expert testimony, careful evidence review, and a thorough understanding of both medical standards of care and Louisiana’s unique legal framework. At the Law Offices of Frank J. D’Amico, Jr., we handle medical malpractice cases throughout Louisiana from our offices in Metairie and Slidell.
Louisiana’s Medical Malpractice Process
Before you can file a lawsuit in Louisiana, your case must go through a medical review panel — a panel of healthcare professionals that evaluates the merit of your claim and provides expert opinions. This is a mandatory step unique to Louisiana, and navigating it correctly matters.
The statute of limitations is one year from the date of the incident or its discovery, with an absolute three-year deadline. Do not wait. Evidence becomes harder to obtain, and missing these deadlines can cost you your entire case.
To succeed, four elements must be proven: the provider’s duty of care, a breach of that duty, direct causation between the breach and your injury, and measurable damages.
Common Types of Medical Malpractice
Medication Errors
Medication mistakes are one of the most common forms of medical malpractice — and one of the most preventable. Common errors include:
- Prescribing the wrong drug or incorrect dosage
- Prescribing medication with dangerous interactions
- Defectively designed drugs
- Pharmacy dispensing errors
Liability can fall on the prescribing physician, the pharmacist, or the drug manufacturer depending on where the error occurred.
Surgical Errors
Surgical errors can be life-threatening and include:
- Operating on the wrong site or wrong patient
- Leaving surgical instruments inside the patient
- Administering incorrect anesthesia dosage
- Post-operative infections caused by failure to sanitize
Misdiagnosis and Delayed Diagnosis
A missed or delayed diagnosis can allow a condition to progress to a point where treatment is far more difficult — or impossible. When a reasonably competent physician would have caught the diagnosis, you may have a viable malpractice claim.
What Compensation Can You Recover?
Medical malpractice victims may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, and emotional distress. In cases of egregious negligence, punitive damages may also be available.
Free Consultation – Northshore & Southshore
Slidell office: 401 Pontchartrain Dr., Slidell, LA 70458 — 985.645.0088
Metairie office: 4608 Rye St., Metairie, LA 70006 — 504.525.7272
