Medical Malpractice in Pennsylvania? Get the justice and compensation you deserve. Call Attorney Michael Siddons for a FREE consultation: (610) 255-7500. No fee unless we win.
Experienced Medical Malpractice Lawyer in Pennsylvania
Medical malpractice in Pennsylvania causes thousands of preventable injuries each year. When healthcare providers — doctors, surgeons, nurses, hospitals, and other medical professionals — fail to provide treatment that meets the accepted standard of care, patients suffer devastating consequences. From surgical errors and misdiagnoses to birth injuries and medication mistakes, medical malpractice can permanently alter your life. Attorney Michael Siddons has the experience and resources to hold negligent healthcare providers accountable and recover the compensation Pennsylvania patients deserve.
Pennsylvania Medical Malpractice Laws
Pennsylvania medical malpractice law (the MCARE Act — Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Error Act) has specific requirements that plaintiffs must follow. The statute of limitations is two years from the date of the malpractice or two years from when the patient knew or should have known (discovery rule), with an overall seven-year statute of repose. Pennsylvania requires a Certificate of Merit from a qualified medical expert within 60 days of filing, certifying that the claim has merit. Pennsylvania caps punitive damages at 200% of compensatory damages but does NOT cap compensatory damages themselves (economic or non-economic). The state follows modified comparative negligence (51% bar). Pennsylvania also requires that expert witnesses in medical malpractice cases practice in the same or similar specialty as the defendant.
Types of Medical Malpractice Cases We Handle
We handle all types of medical malpractice cases in Pennsylvania including surgical errors and wrong-site/wrong-patient surgery, misdiagnosis and failure to diagnose cancer, birth injuries including cerebral palsy and Erb’s palsy, anesthesia errors, emergency room negligence and misdiagnosis, hospital-acquired infections (MRSA, sepsis), medication and prescription errors, failure to obtain informed consent, radiology and lab errors, nursing home medical negligence, and dental malpractice. Each case is evaluated by qualified medical experts in the relevant specialty.
Compensation Available in Pennsylvania Medical Malpractice Cases
Pennsylvania medical malpractice victims may recover all past and future medical expenses, costs of corrective surgery and ongoing care, lost wages and diminished earning capacity, pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of consortium, and punitive damages (capped at 200% of compensatory damages). Pennsylvania does not cap compensatory damages in medical malpractice cases, meaning there is no limit on recovery for medical bills, lost income, or pain and suffering.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the statute of limitations for medical malpractice in PA?
Two years from the date of the malpractice or from discovery of the injury, subject to a seven-year statute of repose. For minors, the statute does not begin to run until the child turns 18, but in no case beyond the child’s 20th birthday (with exceptions for birth injuries).
What is a Certificate of Merit in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania law requires the plaintiff to file a Certificate of Merit within 60 days of the filing of the complaint. This certificate, supported by a qualified medical expert, states that the case has a reasonable basis. Failure to file one can result in dismissal.
Does Pennsylvania cap medical malpractice damages?
Pennsylvania does NOT cap compensatory damages (medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering). However, punitive damages are capped at 200% of the compensatory damages awarded.
Do I need an expert witness for a medical malpractice case in PA?
Yes. Pennsylvania requires expert testimony to establish the standard of care and how it was breached. The expert must practice in the same or substantially similar medical specialty as the defendant. Attorney Siddons works with top medical experts across all specialties.
Can I sue for a misdiagnosis in Pennsylvania?
Yes. If a healthcare provider failed to diagnose your condition or misdiagnosed it, and that failure caused you harm (delayed treatment, wrong treatment, disease progression), you may have a medical malpractice claim. Cancer misdiagnosis is one of the most common types of claims we handle.
Ready to Fight for Your Rights? Contact Siddons Law Firm today for your FREE medical malpractice consultation. Call (610) 255-7500. We serve all of Pennsylvania. No fee unless we win.