Los Angeles Military Medical Malpractice Attorneys

Helping Victims of VA Medical Negligence in Los Angeles

VA medical malpractice occurs when healthcare providers within the Veterans Affairs or armed forces fail to meet the accepted standard of care, leading to injury, illness, or even death of veterans or their dependents. These cases can be complex and challenging, often involving specific laws, regulations, and procedures unique to the VA healthcare system.

At National Trial Law, we understand the unique challenges faced by individuals who have suffered due to VA medical malpractice in Los Angeles. Our dedicated team of experienced attorneys is committed to advocating for those who have been affected by negligent medical care within the VA healthcare system. National Trial Law provides comprehensive legal representation to our clients, ensuring they receive the compensation and closure they deserve.

Call our office at (833) 913-1885 or contact us online to request a free, confidential consultation with one of our Los Angeles military medical malpractice attorneys today.

What Is Medical Malpractice?

Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare provider fails to provide a patient with the appropriate standard of care, and the patient is injured as a result. In order to have a valid medical malpractice claim, you must be able to prove that the healthcare provider was negligent. In other words, you must be able to show that the provider failed to provide the same level of care that a reasonably competent healthcare provider would have provided in the same or similar circumstances.

There are four main elements to a medical malpractice claim:

• A doctor-patient relationship existed: You must be able to show that you had a doctor-patient relationship with the healthcare provider you are suing. This means that you hired the provider and the provider agreed to treat you. You cannot sue a doctor you overheard giving medical advice at a party, for example, because you did not have a doctor-patient relationship with that individual.
• The healthcare provider was negligent: You must be able to show that the healthcare provider was negligent. This means that the provider failed to provide the appropriate standard of care. To determine whether or not a healthcare provider was negligent, the court will consider what a reasonably competent healthcare provider would have done in the same or similar circumstances. If the provider’s actions (or lack thereof) deviated from what a reasonably competent provider would have done, the provider may be considered negligent.
• The healthcare provider’s negligence caused your injuries: You must be able to show that the healthcare provider’s negligence caused your injuries. This means that you would not have been injured if the provider had not been negligent. If you would have been injured regardless of the provider’s actions, you do not have a valid medical malpractice claim.
• You suffered damages: You must be able to show that you suffered damages as a result of the healthcare provider’s negligence. In other words, you must have been injured. If the provider was negligent but you did not suffer any harm, you do not have a valid medical malpractice claim.

Medical malpractice can take many forms. Some of the most common types of medical malpractice include:

• Birth Injuries: Birth injuries occur during childbirth and can affect the newborn or the mother. These injuries might result from improper use of delivery instruments, failure to perform a timely cesarean section, oxygen deprivation leading to brain damage, or other negligent actions during labor and delivery.
• Medication Errors: Medication errors involve mistakes in prescribing, dispensing, or administering medications. These errors can include incorrect dosages, administering the wrong medication, drug interactions, or failing to consider a patient's allergies or medical history, leading to adverse effects or worsening conditions.
• Misdiagnosis: Misdiagnosis occurs when a healthcare professional fails to accurately diagnose a patient's condition or diagnoses it incorrectly. This can lead to delayed treatment, unnecessary procedures, or incorrect medications, potentially worsening the patient's health.
• Surgical Errors: Surgical errors encompass a range of mistakes that occur during surgical procedures. These errors may include operating on the wrong body part, leaving surgical instruments inside the patient, damaging nerves or organs, anesthesia errors, or performing unnecessary surgeries.
• Medical Device Errors: Medical device errors involve issues related to the use or malfunction of medical devices. It could include defective equipment, improper usage by healthcare professionals, or failure to monitor the device's functionality, leading to patient harm.
• Anesthesia Errors: Anesthesia errors can occur during the administration of anesthesia before surgery or other medical procedures. Errors might include administering too much or too little anesthesia, failing to monitor the patient's vital signs properly, or not accounting for a patient's medical history or allergies, resulting in adverse reactions or complications.
• Failure to Diagnose: This type of malpractice involves a healthcare provider's failure to identify or recognize symptoms that should have led to a proper diagnosis. Failing to order necessary tests or follow-up examinations can result in delayed treatment and worsened medical conditions.
• Emergency Room Errors: Mistakes made in emergency rooms due to overcrowding, understaffing, or rushed medical care can lead to various errors. These may include misdiagnosis, delays in treatment, medication errors, or improper triage, potentially causing serious harm to patients in critical conditions.
• Hospital Negligence: Hospital negligence involves systemic failures within a hospital or healthcare facility that lead to patient harm. This could encompass inadequate staffing, unsanitary conditions, failure to maintain medical records, lack of proper protocols, or insufficient training of staff, resulting in compromised patient care.