Central Florida’s Medical Malpractice Lawyers

The Central Florida Medical Malpractice Lawyers at Dean Burnetti Law provide professional Medical Malpractice, Medical Negligence, and Dental Malpractice Attorney Legal Services in Polk County, including: Lakeland, Auburndale, Bartow, Haines City, Lake Wales, Mulberry, Polk City, and Winter Haven; in Hillsborough County, including: Brandon, Tampa, Riverview, Valrico, and Plant City; in Pinellas County, including: Clearwater, St. Pete, Gulfport, Treasure Island, Largo, Oldsmar, Treasure Island; as well as in all of the surrounding Greater Central Florida Areas.

Medical malpractice and medical negligence can occur in doctors’ offices, surgical centers, hospitals, and nursing homes.  They can involve, physicians, surgeons, chiropractors, psychiatrics, or other medical professionals who provide care, treatment, and diagnostic testing.  Dental malpractice can occur in dentists' offices, oral surgeons' offices, orthodontists' offices, nursing homes, or even emergency rooms.

Medical Malpractice

Medical malpractice occurs when a provider breaches the prescribed duty of care, resulting in harm or death to the patient.  (The “prescribed duty of care” is how other doctors with similar credentials would act in the same situation.)  True medical malpractice does not occur nearly as often as medical negligence.  Malpractice has element of “intent” that negligence does not.  In a medical malpractice, the provider’s “intent” was probably not malicious intent for the purpose of harming the patient.  In this case, “intent” is a legal term.  This means that the medical provider knew that they needed to take certain measures to treat a patient.  They also knew that without those measures, the patient could potentially suffer adverse consequences.  However, the provider still failed to provide said measures despite the potential outcome.

Medical Negligence

Medical negligence has nothing to do with intent.  Rather, it occurs when a medical provider harms a patient because of errors, omissions, or mistakes in judgment.  Medical negligence can include delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis, prescribing the incorrect medication, prescribing an incorrect dosage of medication, negligent prenatal care, negligent care during childbirth, errors involving anesthesia administration, and surgical mistakes such as puncturing or nicking another organ during surgery, leaving a surgical tool inside the patient, or failing to follow post-op protocol to avoid infection.

Dental Malpractice

Dental malpractice occurs when a dental provider breaches the prescribed duty of care, resulting in harm or death to the patient.  (The “prescribed duty of care” is how other dentists with similar credentials would act in the same situation.)

Other Medical Complaints

A doctor’s rudeness, tardiness, or lack of compassion or “bedside manner” does not constitute medical malpractice, negligence, or legal wrongdoing. Furthermore, all medical mishaps or negative outcomes don’t necessarily equate to medical malpractice or medical negligence.  In fact, the practice of medicine is not an exact science.  Thus, a “routine” surgery may not go routinely because the patient had more wrong than expected.

In Florida, for a patient to pursue a malpractice or negligence claim against a medical provider or facility, the facts must meet certain threshold points prescribed by Florida law.  One of the costlier aspects of pursuing such cases is hiring an “expert witness”. (An expert witness is another medical specialist with similar credentials / experience as the provider who committed the alleged malpractice).  The expert will thoroughly review the patient’s records.  If they determine that a wrongdoing was committed, the attorney will proceed with the case.

Medical and dental malpractice and medical negligence does occur.  Furthermore, it creates an economic burden due to additional medical bills, lost wages, and physical and emotional pain and trauma.  Plus, the result can be physically and emotionally devastating.  An attorney experienced in medical malpractice can determine if your claim meets Florida’s threshold requirements to pursue the matter.

If you were injured or if a loved one was killed by Medical Malpractice, Dental Malpractice, or Medical Negligence, you have the right to a qualified attorney who is skilled in Florida's complex malpractice law and is knowledgeable about your type of injuries. Call (863) 287-6388 in Polk County or (813) 287-6388 in Hillsborough County or Pinellas County today to schedule a free confidential consultation with an experienced Medical Malpractice lawyer at Dean Burnetti Law.