Syracuse Personal Injury Law Blog
Hepatitis C can have serious and long-term consequences for a patient’s life and, in some cases, even lead to death. If you believe that you or a loved one was exposed to Hepatitis C due to the negligence of a medical professional, you could potentially be entitled to make a financial recovery. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers, our reliable Syracuse medical malpractice attorneys offer clients a free consultation to help them understand their legal options and avenues. With years of experience, we are committed to protecting the rights of clients across New York.
Hepatitis C is categorized as a virus that affects the liver and blood. The illness can range in severity from mild, lasting only a few weeks, to severe, lasting an entire lifetime. When it is serious, it can cause problems such as cirrhosis (scarring of the liver) and liver cancer. Hepatitis C is so dangerous because it can stay dormant outside the body until it enters a human being. In fact, most people have no symptoms but it can develop into a chronic infection. Unlike Hepatitis A and B, there is no vaccine for Hepatitis C. The condition can be deadly and is spread through blood contact, for example, through the use of dirty needles, poorly sterilized medical equipment and/or transfusions.
Filing a Medical Malpractice Claim for Hepatitis C
Medical professionals who cause patient harm due to carelessness or misconduct should be held accountable for their actions. If you believe that you were infected with Hepatitis C due to a medical professional’s negligence, we may be able to help you get the justice and compensation you deserve through a medical malpractice claim. Medical malpractice takes place when a healthcare provider fails to adhere to the standard of care that a reasonably competent healthcare provider would have used in the same or similar situation, thereby causing injury to a patient.
In order to win a malpractice case, the injured patient must prove the following: i) the healthcare provider failed to meet the standard of care applicable to his or her specialty; ii) the healthcare provider’s failure was a direct cause of the patient’s injury; and iii) the patient suffered compensable harm as a result. For example, if a dirty needle was the cause of Hepatitis C, the healthcare provider who used the needle would likely be liable for malpractice because a reasonably competent healthcare provider would have made sure the needle was sterile before using it.
Knowledgeable Syracuse Medical Malpractice Lawyers
If you have been infected with Hepatitis C after a stay in the hospital or a medical procedure, you may be able to take legal action. In addition, if your Hepatitis C was not diagnosed or treated properly, you need to reach out to a trusted and experienced Syracuse failure to diagnose attorney as soon as possible after the incident. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers, we will examine the facts of your case and provide you with an honest assessment of your claim. We are here to answer your questions and address your concerns every step of the way. For a free initial consultation, please call us today at 833-200-2000 or reach us through our website.
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