Wm. Andrew "Andy" Haggard
Jeannete C. Lewis
Michael A. Haggard
Douglas J. McCarron
Christopher L. Marlowe
James C. Blecke
Todd Michaels

The Haggard Law Firm, P.A.

330 Alhambra Circle Coral Gables, FL 33134
phone: 305-446-5700 | fax: 305-446-1154

Medical Malpractice

Medical negligence or “malpractice” occurs when a physician or healthcare provider falls below the standard of care and either fails to do something that should have been done or does something that should not have been done with a resulting injury or death. Doctors and other healthcare providers must follow certain standards when caring for patients. While a simple mistake is not enough to constitute negligence, a death or injury caused by the failure to provide reasonably appropriate or common standards of care or the failure to diagnose an easily detectable illness may be malpractice.

The firm has earned a statewide reputation for it's experience in medical malpractice cases against physicians, hospitals and affiliated health care providers who have failed to render proper care to their patients. In addition to our legal team, the firm utilizes medical and scientific experts from across the country to assist us in providing quality representation to our clients in these complex cases.

Following are some of the medical negligent cases our firm has handled:

NEWMAN v. "SEVERAL LOCAL DOCTORS" AND "ABC PHARMACEUTICALS"

$2.225 Million - Settlement

Medical Malpractice/Drug Error. While being treated for a heart condition and high cholesterol, the plaintiff's drug regimen was modified, by his treating physician, to include two drugs which were specifically contraindicated by the drug manufacturer. Soon after he began taking both medications, the plaintiff, 76, was seen by one of his physicians and complained of the classic symptoms associated with the combined use of the drugs and was ultimately hospitalized. None of the plaintiff's physicians recognized this drug error and therefore failed to discontinue use of the medications or order the necessary diagnostic tests to make the correct diagnosis. The plaintiff suffered multiple organ failure and died.

RODRIGUEZ v. GONZALEZ-ABREU, M.D. C.A.C. CLINIC WESTCHESTER HOSPITAL

$2 Million – Settlement

Medical malpractice. Hospital pathologist failed to properly diagnose urethral penile cancer from a biopsy specimen submitted from a meatotomy procedure. Ten months later, the Plaintiff had to undergo a total penectomy, and due to the cancer’s metastasis, became terminal.

TIGER v. SHAFEY

$1.7 Million - Settlement

Medical malpractice. Failure to diagnose Arterial Venous Malfunction (AVM) rendering the 20-year-old plaintiff paraplegic.

ALZATE v. SANTA LUCIA SURGICAL CENTER, et al

$600,000 - Settlement

Medical Malpractice / Eye Surgery . A 68-year-old woman went to the defendant doctors for cataract extraction surgery on her left eye. While anesthetizing the patient's eye for surgery, the anesthesiologist assisting the surgeon perforated the eye’s globe with the anesthesia needle in two separate locations. Neither of the doctors performing the surgery recognized this surgical complication and negligently proceeded with the cataract extraction surgery, thereby missing the window of opportunity for repair. Despite numerous procedures done after the incident to correct the problem, the patient is now permanently blind in her left eye.

NOTE: A person should base his or her choice of attorney on more than just a website, individual cases mentioned, or dollar amounts obtained. We welcome you to check our references with other lawyers and judges in this community.

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Five Attorneys Named Top Lawyers in the 2010 South Florida Legal Guide

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The Haggard Law Firm Serves Evening Meal at Community Partnership for the Homeless