Kentucky Medical Malpractice

Plaintiffs who have filed Kentucky medical malpractice lawsuits allege doctors and medical professionals in Kentucky have in some way failed to meet an acceptable standard of care when providing medical services to patients. Kentucky medical malpractice claims include allegations of medical negligence against doctors, health care providers, and organizations who may be involved in harm against patients.

Medical malpractice is a claim made against a health care provider that alleges that person did not carry out his or her duties in a way that meets an appropriate medical standard of care. For a claim to be medical malpractice, it is not enough that the patient is unhappy with his or her treatment. A medical malpractice claim must show that the medical professional's care fell below the standard of a competent medical professional's care.

To make a Kentucky medical malpractice claim, the patient must show:
 

• That there was a medical professional/patient relationship in effect
• That the medical professional was negligent in his or her duties
• That the negligence caused harm
• That the harm led to damages.

Patients who believe they have a medical malpractice claim against a doctor, other health care provider, or health care organization will likely need to provide medical reports, expert testimony, supporting documentation, and physical evidence as part of their claim.
  Kentucky has a short statute of limitations for filing a medical malpractice lawsuit. In Kentucky patients have one year after the harm occurred or should reasonably have been discovered. If the discovery of harm does not happen immediately, patients have until five years from the date of the alleged negligent act or omission to file a lawsuit. If the discovery of harm happens after five years have passed from the negligent act or omission, the patient may not be able to bring a lawsuit.

Children have until one year after they turn 18 to file a lawsuit for medical malpractice.

Kentucky currently does not have any laws limiting the amount patients can recover in a medical malpractice lawsuit.

In one Kentucky medical malpractice lawsuit, the family of a man who died of heart disease and complications from an ulcer was awarded $1.45 million punitive damages. James Milford Gray was uninsured and paraplegic when he reportedly sought treatment at St. Joseph Hospital and was given medication, but lab tests and x-rays that were ordered were not actually conducted. Gray was discharged from hospital twice—and refused admission once—without receiving proper treatment and later died. The hospital involved appealed the decision but Kentucky's Court of Appeals affirmed the decision. In 2016, Kentucky's Supreme Court upheld the $1.45 million award. The hospital has said it is confident it provided appropriate care to Gray.
 

Kentucky Medical Malpractice Legal Help

If you or a loved one has suffered similar damages or injuries, please click the link below and your complaint will be sent to a lawyer who may evaluate your claim at no cost or obligation.

 

Last updated on Apr-27-20