My Father Was a Medical Malpractice Victim - A True Story

I was 14 years old when my mother came home from the hospital and told me my father had died. "How did it happen?" I asked. "Why did it happen," my brother questioned. "What happened?" asked our dazed and confused family.

From that day forward, I began to learn what a malpractice lawyer does. I learned that we had more questions than answers. My dad was young, only 46 years old. He wasn't supposed to die. He had a family with three young children. He was gainfully employed and worked hard to provide for our family.

Our lawyer got the hospital records, and he had a medical expert review the records. The more our lawyer probed, the more questions we raised. "Why was he given that medication?" "When did the nurse arrive?" "Why wasn't a blood test ordered?" "What happened when..."

Years later, while I was in college, our case came up for trial. I joined my mom for part of the trial, since it was during final exams. Being in Court was unfamiliar territory. Everything was formal. The procedures, the words, the questions-all need explaining. Our lawyer was a big-time lawyer whose hair was gray and was respected by numerous lawyers who passed him in the hallways in the courthouse. Their nods and greetings were deferential- with respect for his accomplishments and greatness.

I watched with fascination the rapt attention everyone had during cross-examination of the primary target in the case- a young doctor in training who committed the gravest of medical sins. Our lawyer was intense. The barrage of questions put to the young unapologetic doctor were non-stop. The answers were not satisfactory to our lawyer, or to the jury, or so it seemed to me.

The tension in the Court room was palpable and created knots in my stomach. The defense attorney was gentlemanly and put on airs. In my book he was a phony and I was hoping the jury would see through it.

Closing arguments came after three weeks of trial. I managed to arrive just as the trial resumed that day. I rushed from school to be in Court with my mom. What I witnessed that day caused me to apply to law school. Before that day, I was a biology major and was intent upon applying to medical school. You see, my father was a doctor and most of my family are doctors. I thought that was the path I'd naturally take. Not after witnessing closing remarks.

It is now twenty three years later and I vividly remember the day our famous lawyer made his closing remarks to the jury hearing our malpractice case. Neither the lawyer or my mother are alive today, but my memory of that trial lives on till today.

I remember most clearly the accusations directed at the young inexperienced doctor. I saw his red face and neck. I wanted to reach across the aisle of the courtroom and pummel him with my fists. That would be true justice! That would satisfy my anger that had built up for years waiting for this disputed case to come up for trial. Fortunately for the doctor, my senses overcame my desires to quash this little bug. He never knew what I wanted to do to him that day.

On that day, I realized that this lawyer- this ordinary looking, gray-haired man, who had accomplished great things legal- was telling a story so simple and clear that I realized anyone could do this. That day, I decided to become a lawyer.

One would think that with such a great lawyer anything would be possible. Unfortunately for my family, the results were not what we would have hoped. Despite this second loss, the first being losing my dad, I picked myself off and sent out those law school applications. I had one thing on my mind...to become a trial lawyer.

I've been a medical malpractice trial lawyer for the past 17 years now. The first 4 years as a defense lawyer representing doctors, hospitals and folks sued in accident cases. The next 13 years I spent representing injured victims in their quest for justice. When asked by a colleague which I prefer, representing injured victims or the wrongdoing doctor, my answer has always been clear...the injured victim.

My experience helped me understand what injured people have endured. It has allowed me to be more compassionate about the people I have the privilege of representing. This is my calling.

This is a true story.

Gerry Oginski is an experienced New York medical malpractice and personal injury trial attorney and practices exclusively in the State of New York. He has tirelessly represented injured victims in all types of medical malpractice and injury cases in the last 19 years. As a solo practitioner he is able to devote 100% of his time to each individual client. A client is never a file number in his office.

Take a look at Gerry's website http://www.oginski-law.com and read his free special reports on malpractice and accident law. Read actual testimony of real doctors in medical malpractice cases. Learn answers to your legal questions. We have over 200 FAQs to the most interesting legal questions. Read about his success stories. Read the latest injury and malpractice news. I guarantee there's something for you. http://www.oginski-law.com 516-487-8207

Also, take a look at Gerry's FREE NY Medical Malpractice video tutorials at http://medicalmalpracticetutorial.blogspot.com

Discover How Medical Malpractice Law Protects You

Health care providers of all sorts are supposed to do whatever they can to protect their patients during treatment and all aspects of health care. They have the responsibility to treat their patients with the best care they can and are licensed to give. Should a doctor not do what is expected of them and not give proper medical care, they can be held liable for any medical malpractice they may have caused.

It is the job of the government to help protect everyone from becoming involved in situations that present further harm. In just about every state in the US, there are major medical malpractice suits that are increasing every day. It is the job of the government to prove that all conditions have been and were met before any malpractice claim with the court.

There are many different ways that one can approach filing a medical malpractice suit. They are based in the issue at hand and filed with the most emergency situations first. In many states you have to simply have an understanding of the enacted laws, but there are states that just require a person to have a knowledge of the law regarding medical malpractice laws in order to be able to file a claim. There are some states that have a special panel that looks over the cases that are filed. They are going to be limiting the amount of damages that a person filing a claim can receive.

Medical malpractice claims can be filed in the event of a incorrect diagnoses, failing to provide the correct treatment for a disease or for not treating a condition in a timely manner where that failure results in the patient becoming sicker or even death. There are more things that one can file a medical malpractice claim on, just make sure that you know all the rules and stipulations that need to be followed. You are going to have to be able to prove that they health care provider or the physician failed to provide the correct treatment and care, that resulted in some kind of injury. You are also going to have to present actual proof if to prove the damages were either physical or emotional.
The courts do not view frivolous suits favorably. If the hospital charged you $75 for a Band-Aid during your stay, while that is ridiculous, it is not medical malpractice. Billing errors are also not considered malpractice.

Hiring an attorney to help you with filing your claim is the best way to go. They are going to be able to tell you if you have a case that will hold up in court or not. They are going to be using the help of an expert witness to prove your case. Expert witnesses are going to have to be reliable and prove your case. They must have a certain amount of experience and knowledge in order to be able to prove your case. But an experienced malpractice lawyer knows where to get these kinds of resources quickly if they need to.

Every state has their own set of limits when it comes to medical malpractice. It is of extreme importance that you become familiar with all the laws and procedures that are required in order to file a medical malpractice claim. It may be in your best interests that you check on every physician and their background before allowing them to give you any kind of treatment. Medical malpractice claims are something that have to limited and monitored for the costs of health care to be able to be affordable. With the help of an attorney, you should be able to get the justice that you and your family rightfully deserves.

Have you or a loved one been a victim of medical malpractice? For more insights and additional information on your rights if you are a victim of Medical Malpractice as well as finding a wealth of resources to help you with a possible lawsuit, please visit our web site at http://www.malpracticeinfonow.com