New Georgia Law Regarding Medical Malpractice Suits

A new law that pertains to medical malpractice was signed into effect by Georgia's Governor in May of this year. The law is the first of its kind and concerns medical malpractice lawsuits based on payment policies. Under the new measure, doctors cannot be sued by patients for a failure to comply with payment standards established by the new health care reform act, known as the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The ACA, which was passed in 2010, outlines a complex structure of new federal rules concerning fees and payments for doctors. The new Georgia law protects doctors in the state who fail to follow these complicated rules from lawsuits concerning them.

Those who pushed for the new law, including both attorneys and medical organizations, did so because they did not believe doctors should be sued for medical malpractice over the subject of fees and payments but rather for failure to adhere to standard medical care. While the Georgia law protects doctors in this one area, medical malpractice claims and lawsuits over legitimate medical error and negligence will still continue.

According to one attorney who backed the new law, 98,000 people die every year in the U.S. from preventable accidents and incidents by the medical profession. A report by the Office of Inspector General at the Health and Human Services Department in 2010 stated that close to 180,000 preventable deaths occur annually to Medicare patients.

Atlanta Medical Malpractice Attorney

No one expects to be injured or killed due to mistakes made by a medical professional, such as a doctor, therapist, pharmacist, nurse, anesthesiologist, surgeon, or other practitioner. When such incidents occur, those who are harmed may have grounds for a medical malpractice claim or lawsuit against the responsible party, whether it is an individual doctor or a clinic or hospital. These are often complex legal matters, requiring the services of an attorney who has the knowledge, skills, and resources to handle them.

The Tolson Firm, LLC is a highly professional law firm that focuses on medical malpractice cases of all kinds, from birth injuries, emergency room errors, and surgical errors to misdiagnosis, brain injuries, blood transfusion injuries, suicide, and wrongful death. Lead attorney Tolson has been named as one of the Top 100 Female Lawyers in Georgia and has been recognized by Super Lawyers as well. She is also listed as one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Georgia, which reflects the quality of her courtroom skills and presence. The firm has a history of case victories. If you or a loved one has been harmed through medical negligence or error, contact the firm to discuss your case as soon as possible.