A routine check-up, a hospital stay, or a procedure should never leave someone worse off than when they arrived. But medical errors happen—sometimes because a doctor rushes through an exam, a nurse misreads a chart, or a surgeon makes a mistake that should never have occurred.
Alamogordo’s hospitals, clinics, and healthcare providers are trusted to do their jobs correctly. When they don’t, lives change.
Poulos & Coates take on these cases. We don’t split our time between other areas of law.
Medical malpractice is all that we do.
With more than 100 years of combined experience and a team that includes a medical doctor and a nurse, we know how to take on hospitals, doctors, and insurance companies that refuse to admit fault.
A free case review is available now with an Alamogordo medical malpractice lawyer who can answer your questions and determine whether you have a case.
What Is Medical Malpractice?
A visit to the doctor, an emergency room trip, or a scheduled procedure should be a step toward healing—not the cause of new medical problems.
Patients in Alamogordo rely on doctors, nurses, and healthcare facilities to make the right decisions.
Medical errors happen when providers overlook symptoms, misdiagnose conditions, or make preventable mistakes that put patients at risk.
Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare provider fails to meet the accepted standards of medical care. This isn’t about routine complications or cases where treatment didn’t work.
Some of the most common malpractice cases in Alamogordo involve:
- Misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis. A doctor dismisses a patient’s symptoms, leading to a missed or delayed diagnosis of a serious condition.
- Surgical errors. A procedure goes wrong due to negligence, such as operating on the wrong site or failing to prevent infections.
- Medication mistakes. These errors occur when the healthcare provider prescribes the wrong drug, administers the incorrect dosage, or overlooks a dangerous drug interaction.
- Birth injuries. A doctor fails to respond to complications during pregnancy or delivery, causing harm to the baby or mother.
Medical malpractice isn’t always apparent right away.
Some injuries develop over time, while others are dismissed as unavoidable.
If something feels off about the care you received, it may be time to look closer.
Poulos & Coates can review what happened, identify possible errors, and determine if a malpractice claim is the right step.
How Do I Know If I Am a Victim of Medical Malpractice?
Not every poor medical outcome means malpractice occurred. Some conditions worsen despite the best care. Ask yourself:
- Was a diagnosis delayed? A doctor may have dismissed symptoms or failed to order necessary tests, allowing a treatable condition to progress.
- Did a provider misread the test results? A lab error, incorrect imaging interpretation, or ignored warning signs can lead to unnecessary suffering.
- Was I given the wrong medication or dosage? A prescription mistake, pharmacy mix-up, or overlooked drug interaction can cause severe complications.
- Did a surgical mistake happen? A surgeon may have operated on the wrong body part, left instruments behind, or failed to take necessary precautions.
- Was my medical care caused by a preventable infection or injury? Hospital-acquired infections, bedsores, and other complications often result from negligence.
Patients often sense when something went wrong, but getting answers from a hospital or doctor isn’t always easy. Medical records may be incomplete, providers may dismiss concerns, and insurance companies work to minimize liability.
Our team reviews medical records, consults experts, and determines whether a provider’s negligence caused harm that could have been prevented. If you have questions about your medical care, an Alamogordo medical malpractice attorney can help find the answers.
Who Can Be Held Liable for Medical Malpractice?
Medical malpractice isn’t limited to doctors.
Any healthcare provider who fails to meet accepted medical standards can be held accountable. This includes hospitals, clinics, nurses, technicians, pharmacies, and drug companies.
Hospitals and clinics can be responsible for malpractice when staffing shortages, poor hiring practices, or lack of patient monitoring lead to preventable harm.
Nurses and technicians play a critical role in patient care, and mistakes in medication administration, treatment procedures, or monitoring vital signs can have serious consequences.
Pharmacies and drug companies may also be liable if they dispense the wrong medication, provide incorrect dosage instructions, or fail to warn patients about dangerous side effects.
New Mexico law defines a healthcare provider as more than an individual doctor. A provider may be a person, corporation, organization, facility, or institution that delivers medical services. This includes:
- Hospitals and outpatient healthcare facilities;
- Doctors of medicine and osteopathy;
- Chiropractors and podiatrists;
- Nurse anesthetists, physician assistants, and certified nurse practitioners;
- Clinical nurse specialists and certified nurse-midwives; and
- Businesses that provide healthcare services.
Hospitals and healthcare corporations often try to avoid liability by shifting blame. Our team investigates who is responsible and works to hold them accountable.
What Types of Cases Does an Alamogordo Medical Malpractice Lawyer Handle?
Medical malpractice happens when a doctor, hospital, or healthcare provider fails to follow medical standards. Patients expect safe treatment in Alamogordo, but errors can have lasting effects. Poulos & Coates represents clients in cases involving:
- Emergency room errors. A patient arrives with heart attack symptoms but is sent home misdiagnosed. Strokes, infections, and internal bleeding are also frequently overlooked.
- Surgical mistakes. A surgeon operates on the wrong body part, causing internal injuries or failing to monitor anesthesia properly. Foreign objects left behind, such as surgical tools or sponges, can lead to severe complications.
- Misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis. A treatable illness goes unnoticed because a doctor dismisses symptoms, fails to order tests, or misreads results.
- Medication errors. The wrong drug is prescribed, a dangerous interaction is overlooked, or a pharmacy dispenses the incorrect dosage. These mistakes can cause severe reactions, organ damage, or worse.
- Birth injuries. A doctor fails to act when a baby shows signs of distress, leading to brain damage, paralysis, or other long-term complications. Mothers may also suffer serious injuries due to medical negligence during labor and delivery.
Medical mistakes are more than statistics; they affect real people and their futures.
If something went wrong during your care in Alamogordo, Poulos & Coates can review what happened. Holding negligent providers accountable isn’t just about compensation—it’s about preventing future harm to others.
What Damages Are Available for Medical Malpractice?
Medical malpractice isn’t just about the mistake—it’s about the consequences.
A misdiagnosis, surgical error, or medication mistake can leave a patient with lifelong health issues, financial strain, and emotional distress. Compensation in a malpractice case addresses these losses.
Patients in Alamogordo who have suffered from medical negligence may be entitled to:
- Medical expenses,
- Lost wages,
- Pain and suffering, and
- Wrongful death damages.
New Mexico law limits certain damages in malpractice cases. However, there are no caps on compensation for medical costs and lost wages. Our attorneys fight to secure the full compensation each client deserves.
Statute of Limitations for Medical Malpractice Claims in New Mexico
New Mexico law limits the time a patient has to file a medical malpractice claim. Missing this deadline can result in losing the right to seek compensation.
For most cases, the time limit is three years from the date of the malpractice. However, there are exceptions:
- Cases involving minors. If the patient was under six years old at the time of the malpractice, they may file their claim until their ninth birthday.
- Fraud or concealment. The deadline may be extended if a doctor or hospital intentionally hid an error.
- Discovery rule. Some injuries don’t appear immediately. In cases where malpractice wasn’t discovered immediately, the deadline may begin from when the patient identified the harm.
Hospitals and insurance companies use legal tactics to delay cases, hoping patients miss the filing deadline. Speaking with an Alamogordo medical malpractice lawyer as soon as possible can help protect your right to take legal action.
How Much Does a Medical Malpractice Lawyer Cost in New Mexico?
Medical malpractice cases require extensive legal work and expert testimony, making them expensive to pursue. However, cost should never stop a patient from seeking justice.
At Poulos & Coates, we work on a contingency fee basis—meaning there are no upfront costs. Clients only pay if we win their case.
This structure allows injured patients in Alamogordo to pursue claims without financial risk.
If malpractice causes harm, the hospital’s legal team and insurance company are already working to protect their interests. Having experienced legal representation levels the playing field, ensuring patients have the support needed to fight back.
Why Poulos & Coates Is the Right Choice for Your Medical Malpractice Lawyer
Hospitals and insurance companies have teams protecting their interests.
Poulos & Coates protects yours.
Medical malpractice cases require a firm with both legal and medical knowledge. With over 100 years of combined experience, our firm focuses solely on these cases—one of our attorneys is also a medical doctor, giving us a distinct advantage in identifying negligence and building solid claims.
We take on hospitals, clinics, and healthcare providers across New Mexico, holding them accountable when their mistakes cause harm.
If you or a loved one suffered from medical negligence in Alamogordo, call now at 575-218-7873 or fill out or online contact form for a free consultation with an Alamogordo medical malpractice attorney.