A doctor’s visit, hospital stay, or medical procedure should improve a patient’s health, not cause new complications. But medical mistakes happen—some due to rushed exams, overlooked symptoms, or a provider failing to follow safety protocols.
Patients in Deming, NM rely on healthcare professionals to deliver proper treatment. When they don’t, the impact can be lasting.
At Poulos & Coates, our firm focuses only on medical malpractice cases. We don’t divide our attention between different areas of law.
With over 100 years of combined experience and a legal team that includes a medical doctor and a dedicated nurse, we take on hospitals, physicians, and insurers who refuse to take responsibility.
A Deming medical malpractice lawyer is available now to assess your case.
Call today for a free consultation.
What Is Medical Malpractice?
Doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals must follow accepted standards of medical care. When they fail to do so, patients suffer.
Medical malpractice happens when a healthcare provider’s negligence directly causes harm that proper medical care could have prevented.
These cases do not involve situations where treatment didn’t work—these are avoidable errors.
Some of the most common malpractice claims in Deming involve:
- Doctors failing to diagnose or delaying a diagnosis. A provider ignores or misinterprets symptoms, allowing a condition to worsen.
- Surgeons making preventable errors. A patient experiences complications after an operation because the surgeon failed to follow proper protocols. (This is also known as surgeon malpractice.)
- Pharmacies dispensing the wrong medication. A pharmacist gives a patient the incorrect drug or dosage, causing harmful interactions. (This is also known as medication error.)
- Doctors failing to monitor childbirth complications. A newborn or mother suffers injuries due to improper medical decisions. (This is also known as birth injury malpractice.)
Medical errors don’t always appear right away. Some injuries develop over time, while others go unnoticed because providers dismiss them as routine complications.
If something feels off about your treatment, we can investigate whether medical malpractice played a role.
Signs You May Have a Medical Malpractice Case
Not every poor medical outcome means malpractice occurred. Some conditions worsen even when doctors follow medical guidelines. However, serious mistakes should never happen. Ask yourself:
- Did my doctor fail to diagnose my condition? A provider may have ignored symptoms or skipped critical tests.
- Did my doctor misread my test results? A lab error, incorrect imaging analysis, or failure to recognize warning signs may have changed the course of treatment.
- Did I receive the wrong medication or dosage? A pharmacy error, prescription mistake, or drug interaction oversight could have caused harm.
- Did a surgeon perform my procedure incorrectly? Errors during an operation may have resulted in preventable injuries or the need for additional treatment.
- Did a healthcare provider’s negligence cause my condition to worsen? Some infections, untreated complications, and injuries occur because a doctor failed to act appropriately.
Doctors and hospitals rarely admit to mistakes. They may leave records incomplete or dismiss patient concerns to avoid liability.
A Deming medical malpractice attorney can review medical records, consult experts, and identify errors to help determine whether you have a case.
Who Can Be Held Responsible for Medical Malpractice?
Medical malpractice cases involve more than just individual doctors. Negligence can occur at any level of the healthcare system. Those who may be liable include:
- Hospitals and medical facilities that fail to provide proper care. Poor hiring practices, understaffing, or inadequate patient monitoring can cause harm.
- Nurses and medical staff who neglect their duties. Medication errors, lack of proper monitoring, or procedural mistakes can result in serious complications.
- Pharmacists and drug manufacturers that supply incorrect medications. Dispensing the wrong medication or failing to warn about harmful drug interactions can lead to severe consequences.
New Mexico law defines a healthcare provider as a:
- Licensed medical professional;
- Hospital or outpatient clinic;
- Physician, osteopathic doctor, or chiropractor;
- Nurse anesthetist, physician assistant, or certified nurse practitioner;
- Midwife, clinical nurse specialist, or similar medical provider; and
- Business or organization that provides healthcare services.
Hospitals and insurers often work to shift responsibility to avoid paying claims. Poulos & Coates thoroughly investigates malpractice cases to determine who is responsible.
What Type of Cases Does a Deming Medical Malpractice Lawyer Handle?
Every malpractice case involves a preventable mistake that harmed a patient. Our attorneys represent clients in cases such as:
- ER doctors misdiagnosing strokes, heart attacks, or infections. Patients who arrive with life-threatening symptoms may be sent home without proper treatment.
- Surgeons making errors during operations. Patients may experience unexpected complications due to improper surgical techniques.
- Doctors failing to recognize serious conditions. A misdiagnosis or missed diagnosis can prevent a patient from receiving timely treatment.
- Pharmacists filling incorrect prescriptions. A mix-up with medication can cause severe side effects or life-threatening reactions.
- Obstetricians mishandling labor and delivery. A doctor’s failure to respond to distress signals during childbirth can cause permanent injuries to a newborn or mother.
If a healthcare provider’s actions harmed you, we are ready to fight for the compensation you deserve.
Recoverable Damages in a Medical Malpractice Case
A preventable medical mistake can leave patients with long-term complications, expensive treatments, and financial stress. Compensation in a malpractice case may include:
- Medical costs for past and future treatment,
- Lost income due to time away from work,
- Pain and suffering caused by the provider’s negligence, and
- Wrongful death damages for families who lost a loved one.
New Mexico law limits certain damages but does not cap medical expenses or lost wages. We will fight to recover the full amount allowed under the law.
How to Prove Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice cases depend on evidence. A bad outcome alone isn’t enough—there must be proof that a doctor or healthcare provider failed to meet accepted medical standards and that failure caused harm.
In Deming, patients trust hospitals, doctors, and nurses to act responsibly. When they don’t, the law allows injured patients to seek justice.
To prove malpractice in New Mexico, a case must establish 4 elements:
- A doctor-patient relationship existed. The provider had a responsibility to treat the patient.
- The provider’s actions fell below medical standards. A mistake, omission, or poor decision caused harm.
- Negligence resulted in serious injury or complications. The patient’s condition worsened because of improper care.
- The patient suffered measurable damages. These damages may include medical expenses, lost income, or physical and emotional suffering.
Hospitals and insurance companies rarely admit fault. They have legal teams trained to shift blame or downplay injuries.
Poulos & Coates builds solid cases with medical experts, thorough investigations, and the legal experience needed to take on powerful healthcare providers.
New Mexico’s Deadline for Filing a Malpractice Claim
New Mexico law sets strict deadlines for filing malpractice claims. Patients typically have three years from the date of malpractice to file a claim. Exceptions include:
- Minors under six years old. The claim may be filed for patients under six until their ninth birthday.
- Fraud or concealment. The deadline may be extended if a provider intentionally hid an error.
- Delayed discovery. If the patient did not immediately detect the malpractice, the deadline may start from the date of discovery.
Missing the deadline may prevent you from recovering compensation. A Deming medical malpractice lawyer can determine whether your claim is still valid.
How Much Does a Medical Malpractice Lawyer Cost in New Mexico?
Medical malpractice cases require medical expert testimony, legal analysis, and extensive preparation. The cost of pursuing these cases can be high, but Poulos & Coates operates on a contingency fee basis—clients pay nothing upfront and only owe a fee if we win.
Cost should never prevent a patient from holding negligent providers accountable. If a medical mistake caused harm, our firm is ready to fight for you.
How Do I Start a Medical Malpractice Claim?
Medical malpractice claims are built on evidence. The first step is reviewing medical records to determine what went wrong. This means securing hospital documents, doctor’s notes, and test results to identify errors.
Starting a claim involves:
- Case evaluation. We offer free consultations to review the details of the medical treatment and determine if malpractice occurred.
- Medical record analysis. Our team of professionals examines records to identify mistakes.
- Expert review. Independent medical experts assess whether the provider failed to meet medical standards.
- Legal action. If malpractice is confirmed, we will pursue a claim for compensation for the harm caused.
Filing a claim doesn’t mean going straight to court. Many cases settle through negotiations with insurance companies. However, our attorneys are fully prepared to go to trial if you cannot reach a fair settlement.
Why Work With Poulos & Coates as your Medical Malpractice Lawyer?
Doctors, hospitals, and insurers have legal teams protecting their interests. Poulos & Coates fights for the patients they harmed.
Medical malpractice cases require legal and medical knowledge. One of our attorneys is also a medical doctor, allowing us to identify medical mistakes that other law firms may miss.
With extensive experience handling medical malpractice cases, our firm has successfully represented victims across New Mexico.
If medical negligence harmed you or a loved one, Poulos & Coates is ready to review your case.
Call now at 575-218-7873 or fill out our secure online contact form for a free consultation with a Deming medical malpractice attorney.