An illness or injury can be a devastating experience for any New Yorker. If that injury or illness is related to medical negligence or malpractice, the situation becomes even more tragic. For New York residents that have been victims of medical malpractice, there are steps to take to file a New York medical malpractice lawsuit to pursue compensation for pain and suffering, medical bills and economic loss that are the direct result of the injury.

Defining medical malpractice

Medical malpractice encompasses harm that comes to a patient through a medical professional’s failure to competently administer care to that patient. Negligence or malpractice is generally determined by whether that patient would have received similar care from a different medical provider in a comparable situation. The burden of proof in a New York medical malpractice lawsuit rests with the plaintiff, who must show a relationship between the doctor and patient, negligence on the part of the doctor, and a direct association between the negligence and the injury.

Discussing the issue with the medical professional

A patient who feels he or she has received negligent care should first confront the medical professional about the problem. The provider may be the best source of information about what went wrong during treatment and whether there is an easy remedy to the issue. Most practitioners will provide the necessary service to right a wrong during treatment – often without charging the patient for the additional service. However, if the problem cannot be remedied directly through the healthcare provider, additional steps may need to be taken by the plaintiff.

Reporting medical malpractice

It is important for a patient who feels he or she has been treated negligently to report the healthcare professional to the proper medical licensing board. In New York, complaints about treatment usually begin with a report to the Office of Professional Medical Conduct, which is part of the New York Department of Health. This office is responsible for investigating discipline issues involving all types of medical providers, which might include gross negligence or incompetence on the part of the professional.

Understanding statute of limitations

It is also important for an injured patient to understand the statute of limitations for his or her state, which are the guidelines for when legal action may be taken. In New York, the current statute of limitations for medical malpractice is 15 months if the malpractice occurred at a city hospital, and 30 months for problems that occurred at a private hospital. This is the time period from when the malpractice actually occurred, not from the time when the patient discovered the malpractice.