Menu

Family Law Attorneys Fight for Families


About Me

Family Law Attorneys Fight for Families

Many parents fail to realize that they are still co-parents even after a divorce. This means no matter what their feelings are toward each other, their goals should always be geared toward the best interests of their children. I am an attorney practicing family law, and I see parents every day who have forgotten that children should always come first. I hope that this blog will remind people that kids can be terribly hurt when their parents get divorced and that it is up to the adults in their lives to provide a secure foundation where they can feel safe and know that they are cared for. Children are often innocent victims of divorce. Learn how to protect your kids.

Latest Posts

Breach Of Contract — Why Dispute Resolution May Be The Best Choice
25 May 2023

Has a contract you entered into been breached by t

What To Look For In A Guardianship Lawyer
20 April 2023

Guardianships can be complex but often necessary w

Envisioning Your Estate Plan
10 February 2023

Before speaking to an estate lawyer, spend some ti

Why You Should Hire A Car Accident Injury Attorney Sooner Than Later
10 February 2023

If you were injured in a car accident and you beli

Has Someone Sued You For Theft? Here's What You Need To Know
12 January 2023

Theft charges usually encompass crimes involving s

Tags

Suing A Military Healthcare Facility For Medical Malpractice: There Is Red Tape Involved

Medical care and treatment provided by military hospitals and clinics is subject to the same level of scrutiny as any other healthcare facility. However, who is providing this care often makes a world of difference. Military healthcare facilities are essentially under the control of the federal government, so when there is an incident involving medical malpractice, victims often wonder if they even have a right to sue.

New Laws Open Doors

For many years, an impenetrable roadblock stood in the way of many medical malpractice claims against military facilities and it was known as the Feres Doctrine. In short, this doctrine was established based on a Supreme Court case in which the courts established that active duty service members were not authorized to sue the government for medical malpractice, even when negligence was to blame. 

Only dependents, retirees and veterans were granted this right. However, in 2019, new laws were passed that now allow service members, regardless of duty status, to sue for medical malpractice. 

Statute of Limitations

Again, based on new guidelines, any person who has received treatment at a military healthcare facility and has been injured due to negligence can sue for malpractice, but it's important to remember that this right is not an open-ended one. The government does have strict guidelines in place that require you to file your initial claim within a certain period.

To further complicate the matter, the clock starts at the time the malpractice incident occurred, not at your point of discovery. For instance, if a medical doctor failed to provide a cancer diagnosis in 2018, and the victim did not receive an official diagnosis of cancer from a civilian doctor until 2019, the clock would begin in 2018, not 2019. Consequently, it's best to file a claim as soon as possible. 

Filing Protocol

It should come as no surprise that anytime you have to deal with the government, the journey will be complicated. In addition to time limitations on claims, the federal government also has protocols in place that determine with whom the victim of medical malpractice must file the claim. According to the standards, you must file a claim with the judge advocate office associated with your branch of service. 

For an active duty service member, this office would match their current service, for veterans and retirees, it's the branch they served in while active, and for spouses and dependents, it's the branch of the sponsor. Not filing the claims with the appropriate advocate will further delay the process. 

If you believe you have experienced a case of medical malpractice at a military treatment facility, you need to speak with a medical malpractice attorney. Cases involving these facilities are often complex in nature given the amount of red tape involved, you'll want an attorney on your side.