Medical Malpractice Lawyer in Los Angeles
When a healthcare provider's negligence causes harm, California law holds them accountable. Medical malpractice cases are among the most complex in civil litigation — requiring expert testimony, detailed medical record analysis, and an attorney who understands the standard of care. Baghikian Law Firm pursues these cases with the thoroughness they demand. Free consultations.
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Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare provider — physician, surgeon, nurse, hospital, or other medical professional — fails to meet the accepted standard of care, and that failure causes a patient harm. Not every bad medical outcome is malpractice. But when a provider's conduct falls below what a reasonably skilled medical professional would have done in the same circumstances, and a patient is injured as a result, California law provides a legal remedy.
These cases are demanding. They require gathering and analyzing extensive medical records, retaining qualified expert witnesses who can establish the applicable standard of care and explain how the defendant deviated from it, and navigating California's specific procedural requirements for medical malpractice actions. Baghikian Law Firm handles each component with precision.
Medical Malpractice Cases We Handle in Los Angeles
Medical negligence can occur across any specialty or setting. These are among the most common categories of medical malpractice claims in California.
Misdiagnosis & Delayed Diagnosis
Failure to correctly diagnose cancer, heart disease, infections, or other serious conditions — or significant delay in diagnosis — can allow a condition to progress to a point where treatment is less effective or impossible. These are among the most common and consequential forms of medical negligence.
Surgical Errors
Wrong-site surgery, unintended organ damage, retained surgical instruments, anesthesia errors, and improper post-operative care are actionable forms of surgical negligence. These errors often cause irreversible harm requiring additional corrective procedures.
Medication & Prescription Errors
Prescribing the wrong medication, incorrect dosage, failure to check for known drug interactions, or pharmacy dispensing errors can cause serious injury or death — particularly for patients with complex medication regimens or underlying conditions.
Birth Injuries
Negligent care during labor and delivery can cause permanent harm to newborns and mothers — including cerebral palsy, brachial plexus injuries, oxygen deprivation, and other conditions resulting from delayed C-sections, improper use of delivery instruments, or failure to monitor fetal distress.
Emergency Room Negligence
Failure to promptly evaluate and treat acute conditions in the emergency room — including missed heart attacks, strokes, and sepsis — can result in death or permanent disability. ER providers are held to the same standard of care as other physicians.
Failure to Obtain Informed Consent
California law requires healthcare providers to obtain informed consent before performing procedures — explaining material risks, alternatives, and the consequences of no treatment. Performing a procedure without adequate informed consent can give rise to a separate legal claim independent of outcome.
What Must Be Established in a Medical Malpractice Case
California medical malpractice cases require proving four specific elements. Each must be supported by expert medical testimony and detailed evidence from the patient's medical records.
Duty of Care
A doctor-patient relationship existed, establishing that the healthcare provider owed a duty to the patient to meet the applicable standard of care.
Breach of Standard of Care
The provider's conduct fell below what a reasonably competent healthcare professional in the same specialty would have done under the same or similar circumstances. This is established through expert witness testimony.
Causation
The provider's breach — not the underlying condition — directly caused the patient's harm. This element is often contested and requires expert medical opinion linking the negligent act to the specific injury suffered.
Damages
The patient suffered actual harm — physical injury, worsening of a condition, additional medical treatment required, lost income, or other quantifiable losses — as a direct result of the provider's negligence.
What Medical Malpractice Victims May Be Entitled to Recover
California law allows medical malpractice victims to pursue economic and non-economic damages. Note that California's MICRA statute caps non-economic damages in medical malpractice cases — an attorney can explain how current limits apply to your specific claim.
No Fee Unless We Win
Medical malpractice cases are handled on a contingency basis. We advance the costs of expert review, record collection, and litigation. Our fee comes only from the compensation we recover for you — and only if we win.
Frequently Asked Questions About Medical Malpractice in California
A Medical Provider's Mistake Changed Your Life. You Deserve Justice.
Serving Los Angeles, Encino, Sherman Oaks, Burbank, Glendale, and all of LA County. Call (818) 804-8901 for a free case evaluation.