When a doctor, hospital, nurse, dentist, or other health care professional makes a preventable mistake, the consequences can affect your health, your ability to work, and your family for years.
If you believe you were seriously injured because medical care fell below accepted professional standards, a Griswold medical
malpractice lawyer can help you determine what happened and whether you may have a claim.
Rodie & Rodie PC is located in Griswold, Connecticut. Attorney Wilfred J. Rodie, Jr. has represented injured people throughout Connecticut for decades and personally works with clients to evaluate their cases, understand their options, and prepare claims for litigation when necessary.
Free Consultation | No Attorney Fee Unless We Recover Compensation
Call Rodie & Rodie at 203-903-1400 to discuss your case.
What Is Medical Malpractice in Connecticut?
Medical malpractice occurs when a health care provider fails to meet the prevailing professional standard of care and that failure causes a patient to suffer an injury.
A poor medical outcome by itself does not necessarily mean malpractice occurred.
Under Connecticut General Statutes § 52-184c, the question generally involves whether the provider’s care, skill, and treatment were consistent with what reasonably prudent similar health care providers would consider acceptable and appropriate under the circumstances.
A medical malpractice case generally requires evidence showing:
- A health care provider owed the patient a professional duty of care.
- The provider failed to meet the applicable professional standard of care.
- That failure caused or substantially contributed to an injury.
- The patient suffered legally compensable damages as a result.
Medical malpractice cases are highly fact-specific. Medical records, imaging, laboratory reports, treatment timelines, expert analysis, and testimony can all play important roles in determining whether negligence occurred.
Quick Answer: Do I Have a Medical Malpractice Case?
You may have a medical malpractice claim if a doctor, hospital, or other provider made a preventable medical error that fell below the accepted standard of care and that error caused you additional injury or harm.
Not every medical mistake automatically creates a malpractice claim. Determining whether malpractice occurred generally requires reviewing your medical records and having the care evaluated under the appropriate medical standard.
If something about your medical treatment does not seem right, speaking with a medical malpractice attorney in Griswold, CT can help you understand whether further investigation is warranted.
Medical Malpractice Cases We Evaluate in Griswold, CT
Medical negligence can occur in nearly every area of health care. A claim may involve an individual physician, specialist, nurse, medical practice, hospital, dental provider, or another health care professional or facility.
Potential cases include:
Failure to Diagnose
A delayed or missed diagnosis can prevent a patient from receiving treatment when it is most likely to be effective.
Potential claims may involve failure to recognize signs of:
- Cancer
- Stroke
- Heart attack
- Infection
- Blood clots
- Internal bleeding
- Neurological conditions
- Serious injuries
- Other progressive diseases
The central question is not simply whether the diagnosis was incorrect. The issue is whether a reasonably prudent provider should have reached the correct diagnosis sooner and whether the delay caused additional harm.
Delayed Diagnosis
Some conditions become substantially more difficult to treat as they progress.
A medical malpractice claim may arise when a provider fails to order appropriate testing, ignores symptoms, fails to follow up on abnormal results, or otherwise causes an unreasonable delay in diagnosis and treatment.
Surgical Errors
Surgery involves known risks, and a complication does not automatically mean malpractice occurred.
However, negligence may be involved when an injury results from preventable mistakes such as:
- Performing a procedure incorrectly
- Injuring an organ, nerve, or blood vessel
- Operating on the wrong body part
- Failure to recognize complications
- Improper postoperative monitoring
- Failure to respond appropriately to bleeding or infection
An experienced Griswold medical malpractice attorney can review the sequence of events and determine whether medical expert analysis is appropriate.
Medication Errors
Medication mistakes can occur when a patient receives:
- The wrong medication
- The wrong dosage
- A medication to which the patient has a known allergy
- A dangerous combination of medications
- Medication intended for another patient
Errors can also occur when providers fail to monitor a patient’s response to a medication or fail to recognize potentially dangerous side effects.
Birth Injuries and OB-GYN Negligence
Pregnancy, labor, and delivery require health care providers to monitor both mother and child and respond appropriately when complications develop.
Potential malpractice claims can involve:
- Failure to recognize fetal distress
- Delayed C-section
- Failure to monitor maternal complications
- Improper use of delivery instruments
- Medication errors
- Failure to respond to infection
- Failure to diagnose pregnancy complications
Birth injury cases frequently require extensive review by qualified medical professionals because the cause and timing of an injury can be medically complex.
Emergency Room Errors
Emergency departments require doctors and nurses to make rapid decisions, but emergency circumstances do not eliminate the professional standard of care.
Potential claims can involve failure to:
- Recognize a medical emergency
- Properly triage a patient
- Order appropriate testing
- Diagnose a heart attack or stroke
- Identify internal bleeding
- Respond to abnormal vital signs
- Obtain necessary specialist consultation
Hospital and Nursing Negligence
Patient care frequently involves several doctors, nurses, departments, and other professionals.
When communication or monitoring breaks down, serious injuries can result.
Hospital-related malpractice claims may involve:
- Failure to monitor a patient
- Communication failures
- Medication mistakes
- Inadequate supervision
- Failure to communicate test results
- Failure to respond to a deteriorating patient
- Improper discharge
- Preventable treatment delays
Dental Malpractice
Dentists and oral health professionals are also required to provide care consistent with accepted professional standards.
Dental malpractice claims may involve injuries resulting from negligent procedures, failure to diagnose a serious condition, nerve injuries, infections, or other preventable errors.
How Do You Prove Medical Malpractice in Connecticut?
Medical malpractice cases usually require considerably more evidence than simply showing that something went wrong.
Under Connecticut law, the injured patient generally has the burden of proving that the health care provider breached the prevailing professional standard of care.
That frequently requires testimony from qualified medical experts.
The investigation may involve:
- Obtaining complete medical records.
- Establishing a detailed timeline of treatment.
- Reviewing diagnostic tests and imaging.
- Identifying the medical professionals involved.
- Determining what standard of care applied.
- Consulting an appropriately qualified medical professional.
- Determining whether a departure from the standard caused the patient’s injury.
- Evaluating the financial and personal consequences of the injury.
This is one reason it is important to distinguish between an unexpected medical outcome and actionable medical negligence.
Connecticut Requires a Medical Expert Review Before Many Malpractice Lawsuits
Connecticut imposes an important requirement that does not exist in an ordinary car accident or premises liability case.
Under Connecticut General Statutes § 52-190a, before filing many medical malpractice lawsuits, the attorney must conduct a reasonable inquiry and have a good-faith basis for alleging medical negligence.
The statute also generally requires a written opinion from a similar health care provider indicating that there appears to be evidence of medical negligence.
This requirement can make selecting the appropriate medical expert particularly important.
For example, Connecticut law contains specific requirements governing who may qualify as a “similar health care provider,” including additional requirements when the defendant is practicing as a specialist.
This is one reason medical malpractice cases should be investigated as early as possible.
How Long Do You Have to File a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit in Connecticut?
Connecticut medical malpractice claims are subject to strict filing deadlines.
Connecticut General Statutes § 52-584 generally provides a two-year limitations period measured from when the injury was first sustained, discovered, or reasonably should have been discovered. The statute also contains a three-year limit measured from the act or omission complained of.
However, calculating the actual deadline can become complicated.
The particular facts of a case, the identity of the defendant, the timing of discovery, statutory extensions, tolling doctrines, and other legal issues may affect the deadline.
Connecticut General Statutes § 52-190a also provides a procedure for obtaining a 90-day extension to permit the reasonable investigation required for certain medical negligence claims.
Do not assume that you have two or three years remaining simply based on the date of your treatment.
If you suspect medical malpractice, speak with an attorney promptly so the applicable deadline can be evaluated based on the circumstances of your particular case.
Who Can Be Responsible for Medical Malpractice?
Depending on what happened, one or more health care providers or organizations may potentially be responsible.
These can include:
- Physicians
- Surgeons
- Specialists
- Nurses
- Nurse practitioners
- Physician assistants
- Anesthesiology providers
- Dentists
- Medical practices
- Clinics
- Hospitals
- Other licensed health care providers
Some cases involve a single medical error.
Others involve a chain of mistakes among several providers.
For example, an abnormal diagnostic test may be completed correctly but never communicated to the treating physician. A physician may order appropriate monitoring but staff may fail to perform it. A patient may show signs of deterioration but multiple providers may fail to respond.
Identifying exactly where the breakdown occurred can be one of the most important parts of a medical malpractice investigation.
What Compensation Can Be Recovered in a Connecticut Medical Malpractice Case?
The compensation available depends on the injuries and losses resulting from the malpractice.
Potential damages can include compensation for:
Medical Expenses
This may include additional hospitalization, surgery, rehabilitation, medication, therapy, medical equipment, and other treatment made necessary by the injury.
Future Medical Care
A serious medical injury can require care for years or even for the remainder of a patient’s life.
Future damages may include anticipated medical treatment, rehabilitation, assistive equipment, home modifications, or professional care.
Lost Income
Patients who cannot work because of their injuries may be able to pursue compensation for income they lost during their recovery.
Reduced Future Earning Capacity
A permanent disability may prevent a patient from returning to the same occupation or earning what they otherwise would have earned.
Pain and Suffering
Medical malpractice can create substantial physical pain as well as emotional and psychological consequences.
Permanent Disability
Some medical errors result in permanent physical or neurological limitations that affect a person’s independence and quality of life.
Wrongful Death
When medical negligence results in death, Connecticut law may permit the decedent’s estate to pursue a wrongful death claim.
The value of any case depends on its individual facts. There is no reliable “average medical malpractice settlement” that can determine what a particular claim is worth.
What Should I Do If I Suspect Medical Malpractice?
If you believe you or a family member may have been harmed by negligent medical care, several steps can help preserve important information.
1. Protect Your Health First
If you need additional medical treatment, obtain it.
Your immediate health should take priority over the legal claim.
2. Request Your Medical Records
Medical records can establish what symptoms were reported, what tests were ordered, what providers observed, and how treatment decisions developed.
3. Write Down What Happened
Create a timeline while events are still fresh.
Include appointments, conversations with medical providers, symptoms, tests, diagnoses, procedures, medications, and when you first learned something may have gone wrong.
4. Preserve Bills and Employment Records
Keep copies of medical bills, insurance statements, prescription expenses, wage records, and documents showing other financial losses.
5. Avoid Making Assumptions About the Cause
Determining exactly why an adverse medical outcome occurred often requires expert analysis.
6. Speak With a Medical Malpractice Lawyer Promptly
An attorney can evaluate the potential claim, determine which records are important, investigate the applicable filing deadline, and determine whether review by a qualified medical expert is appropriate.
Why Choose Rodie & Rodie for a Griswold Medical Malpractice Claim?
A Law Firm Located in Griswold
Rodie & Rodie PC is located at:
3380 Main Street
Griswold, CT 06614
Attorney Wilfred J. Rodie, Jr. is a lifelong Griswold resident.
When you are searching for a medical malpractice attorney near you in Griswold, you can work with an attorney whose law practice and roots are in the community.
Decades of Connecticut Legal Experience
Attorney Wilfred J. Rodie, Jr. was admitted to practice law in Connecticut in 1986.
Over his career, he has represented injured people and has appeared before Connecticut Superior Court judges throughout the state.
You Work Directly With Attorney Rodie
At Rodie & Rodie, every client meets directly with Attorney Rodie.
Medical malpractice cases often involve difficult personal circumstances and complicated legal and medical questions. Having direct communication with your attorney can help you understand what is happening and what comes next.
Cases Prepared for Litigation
Insurance companies, medical providers, and their attorneys may vigorously defend malpractice allegations.
Attorney Rodie prepares cases with litigation and trial in mind when responsible parties refuse to accept responsibility or provide fair compensation.
Free Case Review
There is no charge to speak with Rodie & Rodie about a potential case.
Call 203-903-1400 to request a confidential consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Medical Malpractice in Griswold, CT
What qualifies as medical malpractice in Connecticut?
Medical malpractice generally occurs when a health care provider fails to provide care consistent with the prevailing professional standard and that failure causes the patient an injury. A bad result alone does not establish malpractice.
How do I know whether my doctor made a mistake?
The answer often requires review of your medical records by an attorney and an appropriately qualified medical professional. The issue is generally whether the care provided fell below the applicable professional standard and caused harm.
Is a misdiagnosis medical malpractice?
It can be. A misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis may constitute malpractice when a reasonably prudent provider should have diagnosed the condition and the error caused the patient additional injury.
Can I sue a hospital for medical malpractice in Connecticut?
Depending on the circumstances, a malpractice case may involve a hospital as well as individual doctors, nurses, medical groups, or other providers. Determining responsibility requires reviewing who provided the care and how the error occurred.
How long do I have to sue for medical malpractice in Connecticut?
Connecticut General Statutes § 52-584 generally contains a two-year limitations period from when an injury was sustained, discovered, or reasonably should have been discovered, along with a three-year limitation measured from the act or omission. Exceptions and other rules can affect the deadline, so an attorney should evaluate the specific circumstances promptly.
Does Connecticut require an expert for a medical malpractice lawsuit?
Medical expert testimony is commonly necessary to establish the professional standard of care and whether it was breached. Connecticut General Statutes § 52-190a also generally requires a pre-suit written opinion from a similar health care provider indicating that there appears to be evidence of medical negligence.
Can a nurse be responsible for medical malpractice?
Potentially. Nurses and other health care professionals are required to provide care consistent with applicable professional standards. Whether negligence occurred depends on the circumstances.
Can a dentist be sued for malpractice?
Yes. Connecticut medical malpractice law can apply to negligent dental care. A claim still requires evidence that the provider failed to meet the applicable professional standard and caused an injury.
What is the difference between medical malpractice and medical negligence?
The terms are frequently used interchangeably. A medical malpractice claim generally alleges professional negligence by a health care provider that caused an injury.
Does every medical error result in a lawsuit?
No. An error must generally constitute a breach of the applicable standard of care and cause compensable harm to support a malpractice claim.
What if several doctors were involved in my treatment?
A medical malpractice investigation can examine the conduct of each provider involved. Some cases involve multiple providers or failures in communication between different members of a patient’s medical team.
How much is my medical malpractice claim worth?
There is no standard settlement amount. The potential value depends on factors such as the severity and permanence of the injury, medical expenses, future treatment, lost income, reduced earning ability, and the effect of the injury on the patient’s life.
How much does it cost to speak with Rodie & Rodie?
Rodie & Rodie offers a free initial consultation. Attorney fees are handled on a contingency basis, meaning there is no attorney fee unless compensation is recovered.
Do I need a lawyer located in Griswold?
You are not legally required to hire a lawyer located in the same town where you live. However, Rodie & Rodie’s office is located directly in Griswold, giving local residents convenient access to Attorney Wilfred J. Rodie, Jr.
Where is Rodie & Rodie located?
Rodie & Rodie PC is located at 3380 Main Street, Griswold, CT 06614.
How can I speak with a Griswold medical malpractice lawyer?
Call Rodie & Rodie at 203-903-1400 or request a free case review online. Every client has the opportunity to speak directly with Attorney Wilfred J. Rodie, Jr.
Speak With a Medical Malpractice Lawyer in Griswold, Connecticut
When a preventable medical error results in a serious injury, determining what went wrong can require careful review of medical records, treatment decisions, and expert medical evidence.
You do not need to determine whether malpractice occurred on your own.
Attorney Wilfred J. Rodie, Jr. can review the circumstances, explain the Connecticut medical malpractice process, and help determine the appropriate next steps.
Request a Free Case Review
Rodie & Rodie PC
3380 Main Street
Griswold, CT 06614
Call: 203-903-1400
Free Consultation | No Attorney Fee Unless We Recover Compensation
This page provides general information about Connecticut law and is not legal advice. The applicable deadlines and requirements depend on the specific facts of each case.