Can I File a Medical Malpractice Claim Against a Specialist? Can I File a Medical Malpractice Claim Against a Specialist?

Specialists are doctors who are experts in specific practice areas such as:

• allergy and immunology;
• cardiology;
• neurology;
• anesthesiology;
• internal medicine;
• pediatrics;
• obstetrics and gynecology;
• radiology; and
• ophthalmology.

They are held to a higher standard than general practitioners because of their advanced skill level. Therefore, when a specialist breaches the acceptable standard of care and causes harm, a patient may hold him or her accountable.

Acceptable Standard of Care

Specialists are expected to exercise the same care and judgment that a specialist with similar training would exercise under similar circumstances. Thus, your obstetrician would be held to the same standard as an obstetrician, not an endocrinologist.

If your specialist’s negligent actions or inaction caused you or a loved one unnecessary suffering, disability, or disfigurement, contact an experienced medical malpractice attorney who can help you recover damages by proving that:

• your physician owed you a certain standard of care;
• he or she breached that standard;
• you suffered verifiable losses; and
• the breach of care caused your losses.

Your attorney will likely consult expert witnesses who will describe the National Standard of Care to a jury and help jurors understand how that standard was violated in your claim.

Why Should I Trust Attorney Chris Mellino to Handle My Medical Malpractice Claim Against a Specialist?

First, Mellino Law Firm does not advertise. Attorneys and satisfied clients send us the majority of our cases. Others find us online.

Second, Chris Mellino is respected throughout northeast Ohio for his ability to dig below the surface to make sure no fact is overlooked. In fact, Chris has been involved in several cases that helped change Ohio law, including Moskovitz v. Mt. Sinai Medical Center (1994) and Watkins v. Cleveland Clinic Foundation (1998). In the latter, he and his previous partner were awarded the largest verdict in the state that year.

Third, medical malpractice lawsuits are labor intensive, so we’re selective about the cases we accept. Some firms take every case that walks in the door, settle those cases for the first amount the defendant offers, so they can fund their next commercial to bring in even more clients, and leave clients in the hands of “case managers.” Mellino Law Firm only pursues compensation for patients who’ve suffered a severe injury or death. By limiting the number of claims we accept, we’re able to give each one the attention it deserves.

Last but not least, since 2010, Mellino Law Firm has been the only medical malpractice law firm in Cleveland to be accepted into Primerus, which screens potential members by speaking to judges, other lawyers, bar associations, clients, and insurance carriers about a firm’s integrity, work product, fee structure, education, civility, and community service.

Attorney Chris Mellino invites you to contact our Cleveland office with any questions you may have about your specialist. You may also download or request Chris’ free, easy-to-read guide to filing a claim in Ohio.