Meridian Medical Malpractice Lawyers

Meridian Medical Malpractice Lawyers

Holding doctors and hospitals accountable for medical mistakes for 40 years

Patients have the right to hope that their doctors will make their lives better – and to expect that their doctors won’t make their condition worse. At Merkel & Cocke, P.A., our personal injury lawyers have the experience and working relationships with medical experts to show when doctors, pharmacists, hospitals, and other healthcare professionals fail to provide competent medical care. Our Meridian medical malpractice lawyers demand compensation for all your medical bills to try to correct medical mistakes and treat conditions that cannot be corrected.

In one medical malpractice case, we worked with two other law firms to obtain a jury verdict in the total amount of $23,600,000 against a physician and her medical practice for the failure to make a timely diagnosis of breast cancer.

In three separate medical malpractice cases, we obtained $3 million in each case for the following types of medical malpractice:

  • The failure of an emergency room to diagnose that our client had an ectopic pregnancy (tubal pregnancy). Her fallopian tube ruptured in the ER, causing a massive internal bleed, which resulted in severe brain damage.
  • Diagnosing several clients with prostate cancer and treating them with injections to contain the cancer – when they did NOT have cancer.
  • The failure of a family doctor to diagnose a patient’s pulmonary embolism despite her symptoms of chest pain and shortness of breath.

How can we help?

What is medical malpractice?

Our Meridian medical malpractice lawyers are skilled at showing clients meet the requirements for filing a legal claim. These requirements are:

  • A doctor-patient relationship. Generally, we can prove this relationship by obtaining the records of your initial appointment or examination – by a physician, at an emergency room, or with many other medical practices.
  • A breach of the medical standard of care. Meridian doctors must provide medical care that competent physicians, pharmacists, nurses, and other healthcare providers would normally provide. Healthcare providers should be in compliance with the Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure requirements and other community standards.
  • Causation. Your healthcare provider’s negligence must be the cause of your injuries or illness.
  • Damages. You must suffer harm as a result of the medical mistakes. Harm includes medical bills, pain and suffering, and the tragic death of a loved one.

In Mississippi, the time limit for filing a medical malpractice claim is generally two years from the date of the malpractice. Some exceptions may apply, such as when the malpractice is not reasonably discoverable until after the malpractice occurs.

What are the different types of medical malpractice claims you handle in Meridian?

At Merkel & Cocke, P.A., we handle all types of medical malpractice cases, including the following:

  • The failure to diagnose or a delay in the diagnosis of any medical condition. Many medical mistakes happen because a doctor fails to conduct a competent physical examination, take a complete oral history of the patient’s symptoms and family medical history, or order the proper diagnostic tests. Mistakes in the diagnosis of a patient include failures to diagnose infections, sepsis, stroke, cancer, heart disease, bladder and bowel disorders, and any other disease or injury.
  • Surgical mistakes. Surgeons, nurses, anesthesiologists, and hospitals may all be liable if they operate on the wrong patient or wrong body part, leave instruments in the patient, fail to conduct the surgery according to acceptable surgical standards, fail to anticipate emergencies or fail to continually monitor the patient.
  • Medication errors. Our Meridian medical malpractice lawyers hold doctors, pharmacists, nurses, and hospitals accountable if they prescribe the wrong medication or wrong dosage, prescribe medications with dangerous interactions or side effects, administer the medications improperly, or fail to explain the risks of the medication to their patients.
  • Birth injuries. At Merkel & Cocke, P.A., we file claims against gynecologists, obstetricians, and other pregnancy and delivery healthcare providers when they make medical mistakes, such as failing to ensure babies have enough oxygen. Medical mistakes during pregnancy, labor, and delivery can cause cerebral palsy, HIE, brachial plexus injuries, shoulder dystocia, and other serious – and possibly catastrophic – injuries.
  • Lack of informed consent. Doctors in Meridian may be liable for medical malpractice if they fail to explain the dangers of any medical treatments and obtain the patient’s consent for those treatments.
  • Anesthesia errors. Anesthesiologists may be liable for failing to regulate the proper amount of anesthesia for a patient during surgery.
  • Other types of medical malpractice. These include postpartum negligence, failing to monitor a patient after any treatment, the use of defective medical devices, and other types of medical malpractice.

What are the causes of medical malpractice?

At Merkel & Cocke, P.A., we work with medical professionals in the same practice areas as the care providers who treated you – to show what medical mistakes happened and why the healthcare providers should be held accountable.

Medical malpractice is often due to the following causes:

  • Human errors. Examples include understaffing or overwork that causes fatigue, poor planning and communication, and providing medical care while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
  • A lack of training. Our Meridian medical malpractice lawyers review what licenses, certifications, and medical training your doctors have. Doctors have a duty to keep current with their medical knowledge. Hospitals have a duty to conduct background checks on their employees.
  • Systemic errors. Hospitals and medical practices need to have the proper equipment, proper staffing levels, and proper knowledge of medical research to provide competent care. Doctors should understand when they need to refer their clients to specialists. Hospitals may be liable for discharging a patient too early and many other systematic errors.

What injuries and illnesses do medical mistakes cause in Meridian?

Medical malpractice can hurt patients in many ways including the following:

  • Making it difficult or impossible to correct the medical mistakes. For example, a delayed diagnosis can mean the difference between life and death for a patient who has cancer or heart disease.
  • Causing harm until corrective measures can be taken.
  • Directly harming a patient, such as by leaving a surgical instrument in a patient, which causes infections or operating on the wrong body part.

Which healthcare professionals are liable for medical malpractice in Meridian?

Our Meridian medical malpractice lawyers file claims against every healthcare professional responsible for your injuries including:

  • Family doctors
  • Specialists
  • Medical practices
  • Anesthesiologists
  • Nurses
  • Pharmacists and pharmacies
  • Hospitals
  • Lab technicians
  • Emergency departments
  • Manufacturers of medical devices
  • Other types of healthcare providers

According to the Hospital Safety Guide, Meridian’s hospitals are rated as follows as of Fall 2024:

  • Baptist Anderson Regional Medical Center
    • 2124 14th St; Meridian, MS 39301-4040
    • Grade C
  • Ochsner Rush Medical Center
    • 1314 19th Avenue; Meridian, MS 39301-4195
    • Grade B

How much is my medical malpractice claim worth in Meridian?

At Merkel & Cocke, P.A., we take pride in being the firm that patients in Mississippi trust to fight for them every step of the way. Our lawyers understand what factors determine the value of your case, when and how to negotiate with insurance companies, and when to try your case before a jury.

We demand compensation for all your current (damages to date) and future damages, including:

  • Medical expenses. These bills include emergency care, hospital stays, surgeries, physical therapy and other types of rehabilitative therapy, medications, and assistive devices and technology.
  • Lost income. We work with your employers and financial experts to determine your lost wages, business income, and benefits. We also demand compensation if you can’t work again.
  • Pain and suffering. We demand compensation for all your pain, both physical and emotional.
  • All other damages. These may include loss of bodily function, inability to enjoy life’s pleasures, scarring and disfigurement, loss of consortium, and punitive damages for gross negligence.

Do you have a Meridian medical malpractice lawyer near me?

Yes. Our Meridian office is located at Regions Bank Building, Suite 205, 406 22nd Avenue. Our lawyers also consult with patients and families by phone and through online conversation platforms like FaceTime and Zoom. We can meet you at your home or a healthcare facility if you cannot physically come to our office.

We’re ready to answer all your questions and fight for all the compensation you deserve.

Speak with our accomplished Meridian medical malpractice attorneys now

We understand how upset and worried you are about your health, your bills, and your family. At Merkel & Cocke, P.A., we handle medical malpractice claims on a contingency basis so you can focus on healing. We have a strong record of verdicts and settlements in personal injury cases. Please call us today or complete our contact form to schedule a free consultation.