When a life-altering injury or death occurs due to the mistake of a healthcare provider, choosing the right lawyer is imperative. Medical malpractice cases can be complex and costly to pursue, but Marchand Law Firm has the knowledge, experience, and resources to effectively handle your case.

Although no law firm can guarantee results, at Marchand Law Firm, we have decades of experience and success representing patients throughout Louisiana who were injured by or died from medical errors.

Medical malpractice actions are among the most complex in litigation.  Success in the medical malpractice arena is dependent on experienced attorneys, capable of navigating advanced scientific theories and medical terminology and skilled at crafting the best argument under the applicable facts and law.

The seasoned attorneys and great support team of Marchand Law Firm have the knowledge, experience, intellect, and resources to handle these complicated cases. Our firm has an in-house nurse to assist in reviewing cases. Over the decades of handling medical malpractice cases, we have developed strong working relationships with board-certified physician experts locally and across the country, spanning numerous specialties. Our team approach to litigation brings additional resources to each case, utilizing the talents of each team member to best serve our clients.

Types of medical malpractice cases we handle include:

  • Failure to diagnose
  • Misdiagnosis
  • Delayed diagnosis
  • Medication errors
  • Lack of informed consent
  • Surgical mistakes
  • Hospital negligence
  • Performing unnecessary surgery
  • Physical injury during transport or transfer
  • Failure to address post-operative complications
  • Misinterpretation of diagnostic studies and lab results
  • Inadequate medical management
  • Negligence during Labor and Delivery
  • Errors in reading imagimg studies including X-rays, CT Scans, MRIs, and Mammograms
  • Birth injuries
  • Nursing home negligence
  • Performing the wrong procedure or operating on the wrong site
  • Failure to diagnose
  • Misdiagnosis
  • Delayed diagnosis
  • Medication errors
  • Lack of informed consent
  • Surgical mistakes
  • Hospital negligence
  • Performing unnecessary surgery
  • Physical injury during transport or transfer
  • Failure to address post-operative complications
  • Misinterpretation of diagnostic studies and lab results
  • Inadequate medical management
  • Negligence during Labor and Delivery
  • Errors in reading imagimg studies including X-rays, CT Scans, MRIs, and Mammograms
  • Birth injuries
  • Nursing home negligence
  • Performing the wrong procedure or operating on the wrong site

Actions Malpractice Victims Should Take

In addition to contacting an experienced medical malpractice attorney, the following tips may be helpful if you decide to pursue legal action:

  • Immediately request complete copies of your medical records, along with any diagnostic imaging films such as x-rays, CT scans, and MRIs. Waiting to recover medical documents can result in altered chart information or lost documentation.
  • Organize your own records. Keep pay stubs and other documentation showing  lost income caused by the malpractice injury, along with receipts for out-of-pocket expenses incurred due to the potential malpractice. Hold on to discharge instructions, appointment cards, test results, and any documentation given to you by a doctor or nurse. Maintain records of any communication with your healthcare providers, including phone records, emails, messages, and information sent through online patient portals.
  • Keep a Journal. Write down everything that has happened up until this point and continue to keep a daily journal. It is best to start a journal immediately before any details are lost. Note the physical symptoms you are experiencing and the emotional impact that the injury or harm is having on your life. Record appointment times and any Maintain documentation showing lost income caused by the malpractice injury. Keep receipts for out-of-pocket expenses incurred due to the potential malpractice.
  • Take photos and videos. A picture (or video) is worth a thousand words. Visual images are useful for comparison with the written descriptions found in the medical records, especially in cases involving open or non-healing wounds, pressure ulcers, bedsores, surgical incisions, and severe bruising, swelling or discoloration. Photos and videos can also help to show the progress of the injury over time and any resulting scarring, disfigurement, disability, or impairment. Begin taking photos of your injuries as soon as you suspect your injury may have been due to medical malpractice and continue to take photos periodically. Make sure the photos and videos contain the time and date they were taken.
  • Although you may have lost trust in the medical community, it is important to continue treatment for your injury and keep follow-up appointments. If you feel uncomfortable with your current treating doctors, you may want to seek a second opinion regarding your diagnosis and treatment options.
  • Seek legal counsel. Speak with a lawyer as soon as possible. The earlier you contact an attorney, the stronger your case can be. An attorney can assist you with gathering documents, ensuring that the correct legal steps are taken at the right time, and protecting your rights to bring a claim.

Experienced counsel can protect your rights.

Medical malpractice cases in Louisiana are governed by special laws that act to restrict a patient’s rights and benefit the healthcare provider:

  • Louisiana medical malpractice actions have a “cap” on damages for which a patient may be compensated.  That amount is $500,000 per act of malpractice resulting in injury. However, the cost of future medical care falls outside of the cap.
  • Before a lawsuit can be filed in court, the case must first go through an administrative proceeding and presented to a Medical Review Panel who reviews the case and renders an opinion.
  • Medical malpractice claims in Louisiana must be filed within one year of the date of the malpractice. However, if the injury from the medical malpractice is not immediately apparent, a claim must be filed one year from when you knew, or you should have known, that malpractice occurred. But, regardless of when the injury is discovered, all medical malpractice claims must be filed within three years of the date of the act of malpractice.

Our reputation speaks for itself.

No matter how complex your case, at Marchand Law Firm, our team of attorneys is capable and ready to protect your rights. Our attorneys have over 50 years of combined experience in representing patients in medical malpractice cases. By choosing Marchand Law Firm, you can be confident that your case is being handled by skilled attorneys who have gained the respect of clients, judges, and opposing counsel.

Our focus on medical malpractice and healthcare-related legal matters allows us to stay abreast of the latest developments in the law and medicine. From a legal and medical standpoint, our attorneys are knowledgeable, experienced, and detailed-oriented. We work diligently to prepare and present each case, from filing the medical malpractice complaint, to the medical review panel proceedings, all the way through trial, if necessary.

Confident, compassionate representation.

Our small, boutique firm allows us to give personal, focused attention to each client. Our clients are people, not numbers, and each one is important to us. Unfortunately, the reality is that people rarely contact our office because life is good. Most of those who reach out to us have suffered a loss of some sort or are going through a difficult time. At Marchand Law Firm, we understand these difficulties and every member of our team will treat you with compassion as we work to move your case forward.

While litigation can be expensive, especially in medical malpractice, our focus is foremost on getting you the help you need. Our attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning that you can hire an experienced attorney for you and your family without worrying about the added financial burden of paying costs and attorneys fees upfront. If there is no recovery in your case, you will not owe us anything.

Contact our office today to schedule your free consultation.