Thanks to modern medical procedures like in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intrauterine insemination (IUI), qualified physicians have helped millions of families have children when they might not otherwise have been able to. However, just like any other type of medical professional, fertility specialists can sometimes be reckless or careless in how they treat their patients, or in how they handle gestating embryos after providing fertility services.

If you or your baby have suffered serious physical harm because of misconduct at a fertility clinic or by anyone else involved in treatments, you may have grounds for civil litigation which a Philadelphia fertility malpractice lawyer can help you pursue. Call Marrone Law Firm, LLC today to discuss your legal options and learn more about what a dedicated medical malpractice attorney could do to help you enforce your rights.

What Qualifies as Malpractice at a Fertility Clinic?

Just like with medical treatment provided by other kinds of medical specialists, fertility treatments and the doctors who provide them must adhere to a specific “standard of care” based on what another equally qualified physician would have done. So, in order to file suit over fertility malpractice in Philadelphia, there must be significant evidence indicating that someone involved in fertility malpractice acted in a way that no physician with the same skills, training, and practical experience would have acted.

Examples of scenarios that could give rise to a malpractice claim of this nature include:

  • Failure by fertility doctors to properly and accurately diagnose fertility problems and other contraindications for specific treatments
  • Failure to properly administer medications and/or treatments intended to increase fertility, leading to physical injury and/or further loss of fertility
  • Negligent handling of eggs, sperm, and/or embryos during IVF procedures, leading to birth defects or other developmental problems
  • Wrongful destruction or loss of IVF embryos
  • Errors leading to fertilization of eggs with the wrong sperm, or vice versa

A qualified attorney can help examine the circumstances leading up to a particular injury and offer guidance about whether litigation would be a practical option.

Unique Rules for Malpractice Claims

Under Pennsylvania law, anyone who intends to sue a medical professional for injuries caused by malpractice must have formalized support for their claim from at least one other qualified medical expert before they can file their initial complaint. In practice, this means plaintiffs must obtain a signed “certificate of merit” from one or more qualified experts affirming that said expert has reviewed all available evidence and concluded the plaintiff was likely harmed through a breach in the standard of care.

Additionally, state law typically gives people harmed through medical negligence no more than two years to file suit after the negligence actually occurred. However, the starting point for this filing period can sometimes be “tolled” until the date on which an injured person reasonably discovered they were harmed through malpractice, as a fertility malpractice lawyer in Philadelphia can explain in more detail.

Contact a Philadelphia Fertility Malpractice Attorney Today

No one who seeks fertility treatment from licensed medical professionals should ever have to worry that they or the child they want to have might be severely or even fatally harmed by the doctors assisting them. Unfortunately, that exact scenario occurs more often in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania than many people expect, often with life-altering repercussions.

A Philadelphia fertility malpractice lawyer can help you demand comprehensive compensation for any harm your family has sustained under circumstances like this. Call Marrone Law Firm, LLC today to set up a meeting with a respected personal injury lawyer.