Des Moines Medical Malpractice Lawyer
Medical Malpractice Attorney in Iowa
Contact an Iowa medical malpractice attorney today. Call us for a free consult at 515-495-6316 or email.
Medical malpractice can change your life, as well as those of your loved ones, forever. Without exception, nearly everyone will need professional healthcare at some point in their lives. Fortunately, the majority of the time, the care given will be administered in a professional and negligent free manner. However, there are times when things do not go as planned and injury or death can be the end result.
On some occasions, a person may suffer injury from a medication or medical device as opposed to the negligent care of a healthcare provider. If you think you might fall into that category of injury, rest assured that our Iowa personal injury lawyers handle bad drug and medical device cases as well as medical malpractice. You can learn more about drug and device cases here.
If you are looking for a VA medical malpractice lawyer Des Moines, IA residents rely on, reach out to Law Group of Iowa now. Any person who gets medical treatment deserves medically competent treatment. This means the doctor they see should be licensed, educated, and will make reasonable and practical decisions when they are treating their patient, just like any other doctor would. However, this not always the case, and medical errors are not uncommon. This medical incompetency does not just apply to regular hospitals, but it also applies to those patients who are treated in Veterans Administration clinics or hospitals. When a patient does not receive timely, safe, and competent treatment, they can end up in worse shape than they were before they came in. At Law Group of Iowa, we know how important it is for veterans to receive the care they need, and if you are a veteran who is a victim of medical malpractice from a VA hospital, reach out to a Des Moines, Iowa VA medical malpractice lawyer today.
Taking On A Medical Malpractice Claim
Many people believe that taking on a medical malpractice claim is relatively simple. You should know if your doctor was negligent and you get the compensation you deserve after poor treatment. However, medical malpractice claims are particularly difficult, and when you work with Law Group of Iowa, we will do our due diligence to ensure you have all the evidence and documents needed to bring forth your claim. It is important to note that if you or a loved one has been a victim of medical malpractice at a VA facility, you have the same rights that other patients have in private facilities and hospitals. The caveat is that when you file a medical malpractice claim, it is governed by state law as well as the Federal Tort Claims Act. Thus, you and your De Moines, IA VA medical malpractice lawyer must go through additional steps when filing your claim.
Filing A Claim Under The FTCA
When you and your attorney decide to pursue a medical malpractice claim, there are certain pieces of evidence that you must provide. These are:
- The healthcare professional treating you injured you in some way.
- The healthcare professional injured you while you were under his care and he was performing his duties.
- The healthcare professional was being negligent.
- The healthcare professional caused your injuries because they were negligent.
In addition to other steps that you must take before filing a VA medical malpractice claim, you must also file an administrative claim, like the Standard Form 95. It is imperative that when filing this kind of claim you understand the time limit. For example, when filing the Standard Form 95 you must file with the appropriate agency within two years of when the healthcare professional acted negligently and caused your injury.
Getting The Right Compensation With The Help Of A VA Medical Malpractice Lawyer In Des Moines, IA
When you work with Law Group of Iowa, we will go over all the evidence to ensure your claim has a certain dollar amount relating to your damages. If for any reason your claim is denied, we will work within the allotted time frame to file a lawsuit.
For more information on how a Des Moines, IA VA medical malpractice lawyer can help you with your Veterans Affairs medical malpractice claim, please reach out to our office now.
Medical mistakes are serious and can forever change your life
The types of medical mistake injuries that our Iowa medical malpractice lawyers consider include, but are not limited to:
- Pre-natal injury or death
- Post-natal injury or death
- Foreign objects, such as sponges and clamps, left inside the body during surgery
- Death or injury caused by anesthesia errors
- Brain damage
- Injury or death of babies during delivery
If you believe you or a loved one have been injured in any way due to the negligence of a healthcare provider, contact us today for a free consultation.
Fallout From Medical Errors
If you suffered an injury, or lost a loved one, due to the negligence of a doctor or nurse, your family is likely facing multiple financial and emotional issues. Some of the more common questions our Iowa medical malpractice lawyers are asked include:
- How are my past medical bills going to be paid?
- How will I pay for more medical treatment in the future due to the medical mistake?
- I can’t work anymore – how am I going to support my family in the future?
I haven’t been working for several months now. What can be done about my past lost wages?
Whether or not your specific questions are listed above, please contact one of our Des Moines, Iowa medical malpractice attorneys today for an absolutely free consultation. We will discuss your case and address your questions with no pressure and no obligation.
Medical malpractice cases are often brought against a physician who:
- Did not use “reasonable care” in rendering treatment
- Did not have the proper skills to perform or provide the at-issue medical care
Chose to ignore or disregard established rules
Obviously, without a thorough investigation, our Des Moines personal injury attorneys cannot say specifically how or why your injury arose. However, the short list above does encompass the causes behind many medical malpractice claims.
What to Do if You Think You Were Injured Due to Medical Malpractice in Iowa
We here at Law Group of Iowa encourage you to contact us as soon as you discover that you were injured. It will help both you and us if you have answers to the following questions prior to your consultation however it is not required. If you simply don’t know where to start, just call and we will guide you through the process.
- What happened (at each visit) from the first time you met the healthcare professional until your last meeting or appointment?
- What is the background and detail of your original illness or injury?
- What type of specific care did your doctor employ to treat your condition?
- What did your doctor tell you about your treatment?
- What did your doctor tell you about your particular ailment?
- Did you follow the healthcare provider’s instructions?
The more information you are able to provide to our lawyers, the more effectively we can handle your case. Thus, answers to the above questions are quite important. However, don’t let missing information stand in your way of calling.
Iowa Medical Malpractice FAQ
Patients place extraordinary trust in healthcare providers, believing that doctors, nurses, and hospitals will deliver competent care during their most vulnerable moments. When medical professionals fail to meet accepted standards of practice, the consequences can be catastrophic. Misdiagnoses delay critical treatment, surgical errors cause permanent damage, medication mistakes prove fatal, and birth injuries affect families for generations. These aren’t simple mistakes—they’re preventable failures that occur when providers deviate from established protocols or ignore warning signs. At Law Group of Iowa, we hold negligent healthcare providers accountable for substandard care that harms patients who deserved better treatment and outcomes.
Who Can Be Held Liable For Medical Negligence?
Physicians who misdiagnose conditions, perform surgery negligently, or fail to obtain informed consent bear direct responsibility for patient harm. Surgeons whose technical errors cause preventable complications face accountability. Nurses who administer wrong medications, miss critical symptoms, or fail to advocate for patients may be liable. Hospitals face corporate liability when understaffing, inadequate training, or systemic failures contribute to injuries. Anesthesiologists whose dosing errors or monitoring failures cause brain damage or death can be held responsible. Radiologists who miss critical findings on imaging studies may face claims. Pharmacists who fill prescriptions incorrectly or fail to catch dangerous drug interactions share liability. We investigate every provider involved in your care to identify all parties whose negligence contributed to your injuries.
What Types Of Medical Errors Constitute Malpractice?
Diagnostic errors including misdiagnosis, delayed diagnosis, or failure to diagnose cause treatment delays that worsen conditions or eliminate cure opportunities. Surgical mistakes involving wrong-site surgery, retained foreign objects, or damage to surrounding organs create preventable complications. Medication errors from prescribing wrong drugs, incorrect dosages, or failing to recognize contraindications harm patients. Birth injuries resulting from failure to monitor fetal distress, improper forceps use, or delayed cesarean sections cause lifelong disabilities. Anesthesia errors lead to brain damage, awareness during surgery, or death. Treatment errors occur when providers choose inappropriate therapies or fail to follow established protocols. Hospital-acquired infections from inadequate sterilization or hygiene practices cause serious complications. We handle all malpractice types across medical specialties and healthcare settings.
Why Do These Cases Require Medical Professionals As Witnesses?
Iowa law requires plaintiffs to prove that healthcare providers violated the standard of care—the level of care that reasonably competent providers would deliver under similar circumstances. This standard must be established through testimony from medical professionals in the same specialty. We work with respected physicians, surgeons, and nurses who review your medical records and explain how the care you received fell below accepted standards. These witnesses also establish causation by testifying that the negligent care directly caused your injuries. Without qualified medical testimony supporting both breach of standard and causation, malpractice cases cannot proceed.
How Do We Investigate Potential Malpractice?
Obtaining complete medical records from all providers involved in your care provides the foundation for investigation. We retain medical professionals who conduct thorough reviews identifying deviations from standard care protocols. Research into current medical literature and practice guidelines establishes what care should have been provided. Interviews with treating providers through depositions reveal their decision-making processes and knowledge. Hospital policies, staffing records, and quality assurance documents may expose systemic problems contributing to individual errors. Comparison with similar cases demonstrates patterns of negligence. We invest significant resources into investigation before filing claims to ensure cases have merit and strong likelihood of success.
What Damages Do Malpractice Victims Recover?
Additional medical expenses caused by negligent care include corrective surgeries, extended hospitalizations, rehabilitation, and ongoing treatment for complications. Future medical costs address lifelong care needs when negligence causes permanent disabilities. Lost wages cover time away from work during recovery from preventable injuries. Reduced earning capacity applies when injuries prevent returning to previous employment or any gainful work. Pain and suffering damages compensate for physical discomfort and emotional trauma caused by medical errors. Permanent disability, disfigurement, or reduced quality of life warrant substantial compensation. Loss of consortium allows spouses to recover for impact on marital relationships. Wrongful death damages help families cope with fatal medical negligence. We calculate comprehensive damages reflecting the full impact of substandard care.
Why Do Healthcare Providers Deny Responsibility?
Medical malpractice insurance companies employ aggressive defense tactics to protect their insureds and minimize payouts. Defense attorneys argue that outcomes resulted from underlying conditions rather than negligent care. They claim complications were known risks that patients accepted when consenting to treatment. Some suggest that multiple factors contributed to injuries, diluting the provider’s responsibility. Physicians often refuse to acknowledge errors due to professional pride and fear of reputation damage. Hospitals hide behind policies and procedures claiming proper protocols were followed. We counter these defenses with compelling evidence and testimony demonstrating clear negligence and causation.
How Long Do You Have To File Claims?
Iowa’s statute of limitations for medical malpractice is generally two years from the date the injury occurred or should have been discovered. However, the discovery rule can extend this deadline when injuries aren’t immediately apparent. For minors, different rules may apply that extend filing deadlines. Missing the statute of limitations deadline typically means losing your right to compensation permanently. Given the time needed to investigate cases, obtain records, and retain medical witnesses, contacting us promptly after discovering potential malpractice protects your rights.
What Should You Do If You Suspect Negligence?
Request copies of all medical records from providers involved in your care. Document your symptoms, complications, and how they’ve affected your daily life. Keep records of additional medical treatment needed to address complications. Avoid confronting healthcare providers directly, as they may alter records or become defensive. Refrain from signing releases or settlement agreements before speaking with us. Contact us to evaluate whether the care you received fell below acceptable standards and caused preventable harm. We review cases thoroughly to determine whether pursuing claims serves your interests.
Medical professionals who fail to meet basic standards of care should answer for the harm they cause to trusting patients. A medical malpractice lawyer Iowa residents trust can investigate your treatment, retain medical witnesses, and pursue compensation for the additional suffering, expenses, and losses that negligent care created. We understand healthcare systems, medical standards, and the tactics providers use to avoid accountability. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. Contact us today to discuss your medical treatment and learn whether you have grounds for a malpractice claim.
Contact An Iowa Medical Malpractice Lawyer
If you have been injured due to medical malpractice in Iowa, contact one of our personal injury lawyers today for a free consultation. We can be reached at 515-495-6316 or via EMAIL.
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