What Do I Need To Prove In A Birth Defect Medical Malpractice Case In The State Of Florida?
Unfortunately, many babies are born with birth defects. Many of these birth defects can be attributed to medical malpractice on the part of a physician or other health professional. The following article will provide some information regarding what you will need to prove in a birth defect medical malpractice case in the state of Florida.
Florida Medical Malpractice Law
Florida Statute § 766.102 outlines Florida’s law regarding medical malpractice. This statute provides a cause of action for the recovery of damages based on the death or personal injury of any person in which it is alleged that such death or injury resulted from the negligence of a health care provider. This statute also requires that the claimant must show that it is more likely than not that the alleged actions of the health care provider represented a breach of the prevailing professional standard of care for that health care provider. Furthermore, the statute specifies that the prevailing professional standard of care for a health care provider is the level of care, skill, and treatment which (in light of all relevant surrounding circumstances) is recognized as acceptable and appropriate by reasonably prudent similarly-situated healthcare providers.
What Elements Do I Need to Prove in a Birth Defect Medical Malpractice Case?
If a physician’s or other health care professional’s conduct resulted in your child being born with defects, you may have a valid medical malpractice claim against that physician, as well as against the associated hospital or medical facility. In order to potentially establish a successful medical malpractice claim against a physician for causing birth defects, you will need to provide proof of the following elements:
- Duty: You will first need to establish a physician-patient relationship between the health care provider and yourself (and consequently, to your child). Once established, you will be able to show that the physician owed a specific duty to you as his patient. As aforementioned, a Florida physician’s duty is to provide the level of care, skill, and treatment which (in light of all relevant surrounding circumstances) is recognized as acceptable and appropriate by reasonably prudent similarly-situated health care providers.
- Breach: After establishing that the physician owed a duty to you as his patient (and consequently, to your child), you will next need to show that he breached that duty. You can do this by proving that the physician failed to adhere to the level of care, skill, and treatment which (in light of all relevant surrounding circumstances) is recognized as acceptable and appropriate by reasonably prudent similarly-situated health care providers.
- Causation: You will need to show a direct link between the physician’s actions and your child’s birth defects. This requires providing proof that the birth defects that resulted would not have occurred but for the physician’s negligent conduct.
- Damages: You will need to provide sufficient proof of the actual injuries your child sustained, as well as any damages you have personally experienced. In personal injury cases, courts will typically provide compensatory damage awards which cover medical expenses or loss of income and/or non-compensatory damage awards which cover intangible things like pain and suffering.
If You Suspect That Medical Malpractice Caused Your Child to Suffer Birth Defects, Please Contact Our Firm
If you believe that a physician’s malpractice caused your child to be born with defects, The Musleh Law Firm wants to help you. Our experienced Ocala personal injury attorneys will work with you to establish a strong case and ensure that you receive proper compensation for the injuries your child has sustained, as well as any other damages caused by the physician’s malpractice.
