As many Louisiana residents are aware, there is a trust implicit in the relationship between patients and doctors. Because of their expertise, patients trust that doctors will treat them with care and knowledge. However, even with extensive training, doctors can still act in ways that can lead to a case of medical malpractice.
What’s more, doctors are not the only ones who can act in a way that leads to patient harm. In some cases, a victim may be harmed by a drug’s side effects. Dangerous side effect can be severe — and even, in some cases, lead to fatal results. This is why drugs must be prescribed with the utmost care, knowing the patient’s history and whether or not the patient may have certain predispositions that could result in an allergic reaction. Plus, the victim must be made aware of any of the possible side effects or dangers.
However, in some case, the pharmaceutical manufacturer fails to warn the physicians of a drug’s dangers or potential side effects. In most cases, the pharmaceutical manufacturer only has a duty to the physician. But in cases where the manufacturer failed to warn the doctor of potential side effects, the victim of the malpractice may wish to pursue action against the pharmaceutical manufacturer. As becomes apparent, there are many nuances involved in medical malpractice cases. Knowing when to pursue a lawsuit is not always straightforward. Plus, knowing who is responsible can also cause some complications. Attorneys are available to help victims make sense of the often complex nature of medical malpractice cases and pursue action that is appropriate. Successful legal action may result in compensation that can be used to cover the costs associated with the malpractice.
Source: FindLaw, “Responsible Parties in Birth Injury Cases: Who Can Be Sued,” Accessed on April 24, 2017