Connecticut Physician Assistant Malpractice Attorney

You need experienced legal representation when a physician assistant fails to provide the standard of care, causing harm to you or your loved one. Our Stratford personal injury attorneys at Connolly Brennan Ralabate, PC, understand the complexity of medical malpractice claims and stand ready to hold negligent health care providers accountable. Our team is devoted to helping injured patients and grieving families navigate the legal process and seek full compensation.

Why Choose Us at Connolly Brennan Ralabate, PC?

Choosing the right law firm in a medical malpractice case can significantly affect your ability to obtain a fair recovery. Here is why clients trust us:

• Extensive experience in complex medical litigation: Our attorneys have successfully handled difficult cases against healthcare providers, hospitals, and medical staff, and possess the necessary resources to manage every stage of the complex litigation process.
• Client-focused advocacy: You are not just a case file to us. You are a person experiencing profound physical, emotional, and financial turmoil. We purposefully limit our caseload to give you the personalized attention you need and deserve.
• No upfront cost: We operate on a contingency fee basis in medical malpractice and personal injury cases, so you do not pay unless we win.
• Strong reputation and integrity: We are BBB accredited, with an A+ rating, underlining our commitment to ethical and trustworthy service.
• Local knowledge and statewide reach: With offices in Stratford and Milford, we represent clients across Connecticut in medical negligence and personal injury matters.
• Generations of experience and proven results: With decades of legal experience and a record of recovering millions for our clients, our firm maintains a 99% success rate in personal injury cases.

Connolly Brennan Ralabate, PC, will fight tirelessly to establish fault, prove damages, and push for fair compensation.

What Is Considered Physician Assistant Malpractice?

A physician assistant (PA) is a medical professional who works under a physician’s supervision and is authorized to diagnose, treat, prescribe medications, assist in surgeries, and perform various clinical tasks. It could be malpractice when a PA’s actions fall below the accepted standard of care and cause injury. PA malpractice could include:

• Failing to get patient history or consent: A PA must gather all of a patient’s relevant medical history and secure informed consent before starting any treatment or procedures.
• Misdiagnosis or failing to diagnose: PAs are often a patient’s first point of contact. Failing to recognize symptoms, order appropriate diagnostic tests, or consult with a supervising physician promptly can lead to a misdiagnosis or delay in treatment for severe conditions.
• Medication or prescription errors: These can include administering the wrong drug, prescribing an incorrect dosage, failing to check for dangerous drug interactions or patient allergies, or neglecting to warn the patient about critical side effects.
• Surgical or procedural errors: PAs are trained to perform minor procedures and assist in surgery. Negligence during these actions, such as damaging a nerve during an injection or using poor medical techniques, can lead to significant injury.
• Poor patient management: Negligent post-operative care, insufficient follow-up instructions, or failure to monitor a patient’s vital signs and lab results can result in significant and irreversible harm.
• Failing to refer or consult: PAs practice under a physician’s supervision and must recognize their limits. Not referring a patient to a specialist or consulting with the supervising doctor when a patient’s condition falls outside of their scope constitutes negligence.

To succeed in a PA malpractice claim, we must prove that the PA owed you a duty of care, breached that duty by deviating from the accepted standard of care, that the breach caused your injury, and that you suffered damages. Because PAs work in collaboration with supervising physicians, liability may extend beyond the PA to supervising doctors, hospitals, and other institutions.

What Do I Do if I’ve Lost a Loved One Due to Physician Assistant Medical Malpractice?

A fatal outcome from negligent PA care is devastating. Under Connecticut law, the executor or administrator of the decedent’s estate may bring a wrongful death or survival action to recover compensation for the harm suffered by the decedent and the financial impact on surviving family members. These claims hold negligent medical professionals responsible and provide some monetary relief to grieving loved ones.

Recoverable Damages in a Connecticut Wrongful Death Case

Damages recoverable in a Connecticut wrongful death lawsuit can provide financial stability after such a devastating loss. They may include:

• Economic losses: The value of the deceased’s lost earning capacity over their expected lifetime and medical expenses incurred before death.
• Non-economic losses: Compensation for the deceased’s conscious pain and suffering between the time of injury and death.
• Loss of services and companionship: Financial recovery for the loss of the deceased’s care, guidance, and companionship to their surviving spouse and minor children.

While no amount of money can ever replace your loved one, securing fair compensation can help your family cover funeral costs, replace lost income, and avoid financial hardship caused by a medical provider’s catastrophic error.

How Long Do I Have to File My Physician Assistant Medical Malpractice Claim?

Time limits, known as statutes of limitations, are strict in Connecticut medical malpractice cases. Missing a filing deadline can permanently bar your right to seek justice, no matter how strong your case is. Under Connecticut General Statutes § 52-584, claimants must file most medical malpractice claims within two years of the injury date or when the injury was discovered, or reasonably should have been discovered.

There is also a statute of repose, which provides an absolute deadline. An individual may not file a malpractice claim more than three years after the negligent act or omission, regardless of when they discovered the harm. The deadline for wrongful death claims is two years from the date of death, with a maximum of five years from the date of the negligent act.

Connecticut’s Certificate of Good Faith Requirement

Before you can file a malpractice lawsuit, Connecticut law also requires a certificate of good faith. This document confirms that your attorney has made a reasonable inquiry and determined there is a good-faith belief that negligence occurred. The certificate must accompany your complaint at filing, as failure to include it can result in dismissal.

If your statute of limitations is approaching and you need additional time to complete your investigation, Connecticut allows plaintiffs to petition the court clerk for a 90-day extension. You must request this extension before the deadline expires.

Call Our Connecticut Physician Assistant Malpractice Attorney Today

Medical malpractice claims are complex legal battles against powerful hospitals, large healthcare systems, and aggressive insurance companies. Connolly Brennan Ralabate, PC, has the knowledge, resources, and commitment to level the playing field and recover the compensation you deserve.

If a PA’s negligence has harmed you or a loved one, contact our Connecticut physician assistant malpractice lawyers today for a free consultation. We will fight for your rights and pursue justice on your behalf.