by | July 14th, 2014
Medical professionals have a legal and ethical responsibility to protect the safety of their patients. Failures to do so may result in civil litigation against the parties responsible for the patient’s harm.
In cases of Virginia medical malpractice, determining the amount of money an injured patients can receive is complicated by a cap schedule the state has placed on such awards.
In 1999, state officials designed a schedule that would allow a slight increase in the amount that can be awarded to victims of Virginia medical malpractice. It began with a $1.5 million medical malpractice cap on July 1, 2000, and has progressed to a cap of $2.15 million on July 1, 2014.
The amount that an individual can be awarded depends on when the accident, injury, or medical error occurred. In other words, an individual can only be awarded the amount of the cap during the year their injury occurs.
In 2031, the cap will max out at a total of $3 million.
There are also statutes of limitations that apply to Virginia medical malpractice claims, which is why it’s important to speak with an attorney about your case as soon as possible. The Norfolk personal injury lawyers with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley are aware of how confusing the legal process can be and are here to help victims of Virginia medical malpractice.
by | November 25th, 2013
November 25, 2013
Each year, a large number of hospital patients lose their lives or are seriously injured as the result of preventable medical errors made by doctors and staff. The Norfolk Medical Malpractice Lawyers with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley explain some hospitals in the state of Virginia are working to prevent such mistakes through the use of electronic health records.
According to a story from U.S. News, facilities owned by Sentara Healthcare began implementing the electronic system in 2005 to the tune of roughly $237 million. By 2011 though, the system had produced almost double the expected savings through the prevention of an estimated 180,000 medication errors. Other savings were accumulated by the program through the slashing of hospital stay durations, lowering of healthcare costs, and increasing savings.
Experts say the program reduces errors by providing hospital staff members with an easy way to access and update information regarding a patient. Despite such ease of access to patient information, the program is being touted as also having created a better way to protect patient privacy as well.
Lowell “the Hammer” Stanley and his team of Norfolk Personal Injury Lawyers applaud the use of this new technology in order to reduce the number of patients who are harmed annually. The firm is hopeful to see similar programs implemented at other hospital facilities in the future.
