The healthcare field can be quite high-stakes. While medical professionals dedicate their lives to caring for patients, even the most effective healthcare providers can face medical malpractice claims. With the help of a Baton Rouge medical malpractice defense lawyer, you can receive strong legal support to help you get through malpractice litigation. We offer a thorough strategy to get you back to helping patients.
Louisiana Medical Malpractice Defense Lawyers
There is no question that all aspects of medical care contain risk — from diagnosis, to prescription, to surgical procedure. With every risk taken on, health care providers also bear the risk of medical malpractice suits.
In nearly three quarters of a century’s worth of medical malpractice and general liability defense litigation and trial work, there are few situations that Watson, Blanche, Wilson & Posner, LLP, has not encountered. However, the firm recognizes that no two cases are exactly the same. By combining this comprehensive knowledge and expertise from the front lines of trials with proven as well as innovative techniques, Watson, Blanche looks to achieve successful outcomes for every client. The firm is specifically skilled at providing advice regarding the hardest decisions – when a trial is worth the expense and effort and when and how to obtain a fair and economical settlement. This kind of advice can only come from lawyers who know the courtroom, the cases and their opponents, as Watson, Blanche, Wilson & Posner does.
The firm is prepared to defend against cases involving surgical errors, failure to diagnose and many other types of malpractice claims. The firm routinely represents:
- Hospitals
- Physicians
- Other medical professionals
- Advanced nurse practitioners
- Allied health professionals
- Physician Assistants
- Registered Nurses
- Licensed Practical Nurses
- Nursing homes
- Long-term Care facilities
- Assisted Living facilities
- Mental Health facilities
- Rehabilitation facilities
The firm assists these health care providers in many areas, including:
- Defense planning and strategy: Our firm offers comprehensive plans tailored to each of our cases. We investigate the situation to gather evidence and facts and also work with medical leaders to improve the strength of your case. We also prepare our clients for depositions and court appearances so that they feel ready to address their legal issues. Our strategy is to minimize liability and manage your professional reputation.
- Policy coverage and personal counsel matters: It’s important to understand the nuances of policy coverage if you are facing legal challenges. Our firm reviews your existing policy to determine your coverage or medical malpractice claims, including any exclusions or limitations. We can also assist with negotiating and settling claims with insurance companies to make sure providers are informed about the details of their policy.
- Defense of medical malpractice/professional negligence claims: We aim to be an advocate for healthcare providers by helping to protect them against medical malpractice or professional negligence claims. Our skill in representing clients in court and during the settlement process includes developing a defense strategy as well as creating legal arguments to address statements made by the prosecution.
- Review and structuring of medical malpractice and professional negligence policies: Insurance policies often have confusing language that prevents healthcare providers from understanding their benefits in the event of a medical malpractice allegation. Our thorough review of your policy can help you address issues before you are accused of malpractice to make sure you are protected in the future.
It can be difficult for a healthcare provider to deal with a medical malpractice claim. Consider working with a medical malpractice defense lawyer to learn more about your options and to help protect your practice as well as your professional future.
What Makes Us Stand Out?
Our firm can help you develop a more thorough case to argue your claims. We can help gather professional testimony to challenge the plaintiff’s claims and support your side of the story. It’s important to choose professionals carefully to make sure their experience and credentials align with the details of the case.
We also understand the financial and emotional burden of going to trial. Instead of pressuring you to go to trial under any circumstances, we offer straightforward counsel on whether or not to pursue a settlement or go to trial. Our goal is to offer practical solutions for our clients so they can get back to their practice.
Many legal issues surrounding medical malpractice can benefit from strong bylaws, rules, and committees from healthcare providers. To this end, we also have experience with helping institutions like hospitals and other medical centers create, update, and strengthen their rules to ensure compliance and prevent future medical malpractice claims. We can guide ethics and credential committees to prevent future regulatory issues.
Contracts are another vital part of medical malpractice claims. While many healthcare providers have insurance policies to help them in the event of a medical malpractice case, some do not understand the benefits or obligations their policies state. We are experienced in reviewing and negotiating these contracts so that you are completely sure about what is expected of you if someone accuses you of medical malpractice.
While we do provide comprehensive services to traditional hospitals and physicians, we also support nurse practitioners and allied health professionals. We provide guidance on their credentials as well as their professional liabilities. Even physician assistants, registered nurses, and licensed practical nurses can benefit from legal counsel during a medical malpractice claim.
Many medical malpractice claims come from nontraditional medical facilities, like nursing homes, long-term care facilities, and assisted living facilities. Each of these institutions has its own set of rules and regulations for how patients must be treated. Regardless of the type of medical institution or credential of the medical practitioner, our firm can provide legal support for a medical malpractice claim.
The firm is prepared to reach out to medical professionals and experts who can present expert testimony to build the strongest defense possible and offer trustworthy, unbiased counsel when a settlement should be pursued. In every case, the firm’s lawyers work directly with clients to help explain all steps and options for the most effective and efficient approach to counsel that also keeps in mind the health care provider’s reputation and long-term objectives.
To get in touch and schedule an initial consultation, call 225-387-5511 or contact us.
FAQs
Defending against medical malpractice can be a difficult process that often benefits from the help of a legal professional. Some cases benefit from proving that the healthcare professional did act within the standard of care according to professional witnesses. Other defense strategies include considering whether or not the patient was at fault for their own injuries, as well as disproving the link between the healthcare provider’s actions and the patient’s injuries.
A healthcare provider typically needs a substantial amount of evidence to defend against a malpractice claim. This can include things like testimonies from other medical professionals within the field, test results from the patient, medical records, and potentially photo or video evidence. An attorney can work with an insurance company to gather this evidence to help a healthcare provider be treated fairly in a medical malpractice trial.
To prevent a medical malpractice claim, it is a good idea to determine what programs are in place to ensure compliance and make sure they are developed enough to prevent malpractice issues. This can be done through regular audits, employee training, and the development of written guidelines. It can also be beneficial to review your insurance policy with an attorney to understand what services are available to you in the event of a malpractice claim.
A medical malpractice defense lawyer helps healthcare providers maintain their reputation if they have a medical malpractice claim filed against them. They can help develop a defense plan, evaluate what coverage is offered for malpractice within their insurance coverage, and even help prepare them for a trial. Most importantly, a medical malpractice defense lawyer informs a healthcare provider of their rights and options during an accusation of malpractice.
Be Proactive in Defending Your Practice
Legal challenges are an unfortunate reality for many healthcare providers, but hiring a medical malpractice defense attorney can help the process go as smoothly as possible. At Watson, Blanche, Wilson & Posner, LLP, we offer strong support for healthcare providers facing legal issues. Schedule a consultation today to receive support so that you can go on to provide quality care for your patients.