One of the worst things a parent can experience is having a child who is seriously ill or injured. When the child’s condition has been caused or worsened by pediatric malpractice, the situation is even more tragic. At Cooper Schall & Levy in Philadelphia, our experienced medical malpractice lawyers understand the tremendous pain involved. Contact us to discuss your options. We are not only forceful litigators; we are compassionate people and will always respond to you with respect and personal concern.
We recognize that increased medical expenses for your child and lost income for the time you spend caring for your young patient may be putting you in financial straits. We are prepared to fight aggressively to ensure that you receive the compensation you and your child deserve. More than that, your initial consultation with us is free and we will charge you no attorneys’ fees until we recover damages for you and your family.
We Have a Well-Earned Reputation for Integrity and Successful Outcomes
If your child has suffered due to pediatric malpractice, or if you have been through the indescribable loss of your child to medical negligence, you need a knowledgeable attorney to take the necessary actions. At Cooper Schall & Levy, we believe that doctors who took an oath to “first do no harm” must be held accountable for violating their duty of care to their young patients.
Doctors Are Not Always the Targets of Pediatric Malpractice Lawsuits
While your child may have been harmed during a surgical procedure or another medical treatment administered by a doctor, it is also possible that a nurse, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, pharmacist, or hospital facility is to blame for your child’s illness or injury. Our legal team has the strong investigative skills to find out exactly who is responsible. Depending on the circumstances, we may sue more than one party.
Understanding What Pediatric Malpractice Means
When medical malpractice harms the youngest, most vulnerable member of your family, the child bears the brunt of physical trauma, but everyone suffers emotionally. It’s important to understand that medical malpractice is much more than a mistake. It involves being derelict in one’s duty of care, failing to meet the reasonable standards expected of medical professionals.
To win your case, we must prove that there is a direct correlation between the defendant’s negligence, reckless behavior or poor judgment, and your child’s worsened condition or wrongful death.
Types of Pediatric Malpractice
In most cases, the kinds of mistakes that lead to pediatric malpractice claims are similar to those that result in adult medical malpractice claims. However, similar mistakes can be more detrimental to children because of their small size, accelerated growth process, and relative fragility. Pediatric malpractice covers a broad range of errors, including
- Delayed diagnosis
- Misdiagnosis
- Prescription errors
- Dosage errors
- Anesthesia errors
- Surgical errors
- Improper performance of a procedure
- Failure to supervise or monitor the patient
- Postoperative negligence resulting in infection
- Failure to receive informed parental consent for a procedure
The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that the two most common pediatric malpractice claims are misdiagnosis of meningitis and misdiagnosis of appendicitis, either of which can be life-threatening.
Services Our Medical Malpractice Attorneys Will Provide
Aware of the enormous stress your family is experiencing, we will do all we can to lift your burden by:
- Handling all communications/negotiations with opposing attorneys and insurance adjusters
- Examining all medical and hospital records about your case
- Investigating the defendant’s history of any similar negligence or misconduct
- Interviewing witnesses, e.g. other office or hospital personnel, other patients
- Identifying all responsible parties
- Consulting with experts in pertinent fields who may testify in court on your behalf
Most importantly, we will use well-honed negotiation techniques to win you a fair settlement. If the settlement offered through negotiations is insufficient to meet your present and future needs, we have both reliable and innovative strategies to successfully fight for you in court.
Damages We Will Fight to Win
We are aware that receiving monetary compensation for your child’s pain or passing is not justice, but remain dedicated to working hard to see that you are reimbursed for:
- Past and future medical and rehabilitation costs
- Personal care and home-altering expenses needed for a long-term disability
- Wages you lost while tending to your sick child
- Medical equipment
- Psychotherapy for your child
- Your child’s pain and suffering
- Your child’s permanent disability
- Your child’s permanent disfigurement
- Your child’s loss of enjoyment of life
Wrongful Death
If your child was lost in a wrongful death due to pediatric malpractice, we will fight for maximum compensation for final medical bills, funeral fees, burial expenses, and the awful loss of companionship and your child’s future.
Contact Our Experienced Pediatric Malpractice Attorneys Today
Our Philadelphia lawyers are ready to fight tirelessly for your right to substantial compensation for the harm done to your child. In addition to all the physical and emotional misery, we know that the feeling of being betrayed by those who are supposed to heal and protect is overwhelming. We want you to know that we are here to offer you not only the skilled legal advocacy you require but the personalized support you deserve. Contact us today for a consultation.
