Children are among the most vulnerable patients in any medical setting. They depend entirely on healthcare providers to recognize warning signs that they cannot communicate themselves. When those providers fail them, the consequences can affect a child for the rest of their life.
If your child suffered serious harm as a result of a medical provider’s negligence, the Las Cruces medical malpractice lawyers at Coates & Johnson, PLLC are here to help. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
Why Choose Coates & Johnson, PLLC to Handle My Pediatric Malpractice Case?
Cases involving an injured child carry a different kind of weight, and they call for attorneys who understand both the medicine and the stakes involved.
Families throughout the region choose Coates & Johnson, PLLC for their pediatric malpractice claims because:
- We handle medical malpractice cases exclusively
- One of our founding attorney’s, Greig Coate, background in medicine gives our team firsthand insight into how pediatric standards of care are actually applied
- We bring in pediatric specialists who can help strengthen your case
- Every case stays under the direct guidance of a partner
- We handle every pediatric malpractice case on a no win, no fee basis.
If your child was harmed by a medical provider’s negligence, contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a Las Cruces pediatric malpractice attorney.
What Is Pediatric Malpractice?
Pediatric malpractice is medical negligence that occurs during treatment provided to infants, children, or adolescents. It can involve many types of errors, from failure to diagnose a condition and surgical mistakes to medication mistakes and anesthesia errors.
Common forms of pediatric malpractice include:
- Misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis of serious pediatric conditions
- Medication dosing errors in pediatric patients
- Surgical errors during procedures on children
- Failure to recognize signs of pediatric emergencies such as sepsis, meningitis, or appendicitis
- Inadequate monitoring of a child’s condition following a procedure or hospitalization
Children are still developing. Therefore, injuries sustained through medical negligence can have long-lasting effects on their mental and physical development.
Conditions Commonly Involved in Pediatric Malpractice Claims
Several conditions rear their heads in pediatric malpractice cases because they are commonly misdiagnosed or inadequately treated in younger patients. These include:
- Meningitis and other serious infections
- Appendicitis
- Sepsis
- Intussusception and other gastrointestinal emergencies
- Developmental and neurological conditions identified late due to delayed screening
- Birth asphyxia and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE)
Early and accurate diagnosis is critical in each of these situations. Delays of even a few hours can mean the difference between a full recovery and lasting injury.
Establishing Liability for Pediatric Malpractice Under New Mexico Law
A pediatric malpractice claim in New Mexico follows the same legal framework as other medical negligence claims. However, the standard of care must be evaluated in the context of pediatric medicine specifically, i.e., what a reasonably competent pediatric provider would have done under the same circumstances (not what an adult medicine provider would do).
To succeed, your claim must establish that the provider owed your child a duty of care, breached that duty, and directly caused the child’s injuries and resulting damages. Expert testimony from qualified pediatric specialists is a critical part of establishing these elements.
Contact an Experienced Pediatric Malpractice Lawyer for Help
No parent should have to watch their child suffer because of medical malpractice. If your child was harmed by medical negligence, you deserve answers, and your child deserves accountability.
The Las Cruces pediatric malpractice attorneys at Coates & Johnson, PLLC have the experience and resources to take on any defendant and get justice for your family. Call us today for a free consultation to learn more.