Gaming the System: How Sure Are You about Your NYC Doctor?

When we seek medical attention, most of us trust the authority of that white coat. We trust that we’re in the hands of a competent medical professional, who at least meets the minimum acceptable standards of care.

Fortunately, most doctors are competent and go out of their way to ensure patients receive the best possible care. That said, some doctors make negligent mistakes that result in serious injury or even the death of their patients.

Although there are regulatory commissions intended to prevent bad doctors from continuing to treat patients, a handful of bad physicians have begun to game the system and escape these sanctions.

Below, we’re going to cover how some physicians skip town and go on to continue dangerously practicing medicine on unsuspecting new patients, and what you can do if you’re injured by medical malpractice.

Negligent Louisiana Doctor Skips Town to Try Practicing in New York

A Louisiana doctor was forced to give up his state medical license for removing a presumably healthy kidney during what was supposed to be colon surgery. He went on to practice in California, where he removed a woman’s fallopian tube, which he mistook for her appendix.

Fortunately, he was prevented from practicing in New York due to his prior issues, but he now practices in an urgent care clinic in Ohio.

Although this case is hopefully exceptional in its scope and severity, a recent study revealed over 500 physicians who were disciplined or lost their medical licenses in one state, managed to slip through the net to continue practicing in other states.

Because medical boards operate under the authority of individual states, negligent physicians that pose a danger to patients are sometimes allowed to continue practicing.

Clearly, the consequences can be devastating. If you believe you’ve fallen victim to a medical practitioner’s negligence, you may be entitled to file suit. Here’s what medical malpractice tends to look like…

Common Injuries Associated with New York Medical Malpractice

Negligence on the part of your doctor legally referred to as medical malpractice can lead to life-altering or even fatal injuries.

There are a number of common issues related to medical malpractice that often lead to patient injury, including the following:

• Misdiagnosis is when the doctor inaccurately diagnoses your condition and leads to improper treatment.
• Delayed diagnosis occurs if the doctor fails to diagnose your condition in a timely manner, and it prevents timely and adequate treatment.
• Failure to treat (or recommend adequate treatment) after correct and prompt diagnosis usually happens due to high patient volumes in clinic and hospital settings.
• Surgical errors — one of the most serious negligent acts a doctor can make — made during procedures can result in injury or even death.

Regardless of the type of error, medical injuries often have devastating consequences for the patients and their families. They can lead to permanent disability and even death. In fact, 10% of all deaths nationwide are caused by medical errors.

Filing a New York Medical Malpractice Suit

When a patient is injured due to medical negligence, he or she is entitled to seek compensation for the injuries through a medical malpractice suit.

In order to win a medical malpractice case, you must be able to prove that something your doctor did, or failed to do, breached the standard of care that doctors reasonably owe to their patients.

In New York, patients must also meet the statute of limitations. In New York, you must file suit within 30 months of completing treatment.

Medical malpractice suits generally require an extensive investigation, which will be much more accurate if you take action as soon as possible.

If you or a loved one are injured by medical malpractice, consider seeking compensation through a medical malpractice suit. The damages you are awarded can help you and your family recover from the financial and emotional toll these type of injuries can accrue. Furthermore, malpractice suits help hold negligent doctors accountable and often prevent future malpractice against others