Medical chronologies provide vital evidence in medical malpractice cases that show someone has suffered a severely disabling disease or disorder due to physician error. A medical chronology is a complete and detailed record of clinical events affecting the defendant from the time the medical malpractice occurred to the present. To create a medical malpractice chronology, attorneys gain access to their client’s medical records to locate, identify, interpret and review records pertinent to the case.
Information included in medical chronologies include signs and symptoms of illness following a medical malpractice event, diagnosis of health issues following medical malpractice and all treatments necessary to maintain quality of life for the victim of medical malpractice.
WHY WOULD A MEDICAL MALPRACTICE VICTIM NEED ATTORNEY-PRODUCED MEDICAL CHRONOLOGIES?
Medical malpractice cases are difficult to prove because attorneys must prove an established “health care” relationship existed between their client and the client’s doctor when the medical malpractice occurred. Attorneys must also show that the health provider failed to practice a “standard of ordinary care” while attending to the patient. Sworn testimony and medical records, including a medical malpractice chronology, are essential for proving a physician or other medical provider did not practice standards of ordinary care. Determining damages also requires complete medical chronologies, sworn testimony from experts and documentation of medical bills incurred by the medical malpractice event.
HOW A MEDICAL MALPRACTICE CHRONOLOGY IS CREATED
After gathering all of their client’s medical records, attorneys appoint medical malpractice chronology experts to summarize important information, read through both handwritten and printed details, mark areas suspected of encompassing the legal definition of negligence and present them in proper form to attorneys handling the case.
Medical chronologies are also important when it is time for the Social Security Administration to review a disability case when victims of medical malpractice must rely on Social Security disability payments if they can no longer work.
Contact our law firm today to schedule an appointment if you or someone you know has been the victim of medical malpractice.
