Can You Sue Multiple Doctors for Medical Malpractice?

Medical malpractice lawsuits are some of the most complicated personal injury lawsuits, and they only become more complex when multiple doctors are involved as defendants. It’s not abnormal for patients to see multiple doctors for an illness or procedure, which means it’s not uncommon for multiple people to be liable in your medical malpractice case. 

This brings up one very important question: can you sue multiple doctors for medical malpractice? The straightforward answer is yes, but this path is layered with complexity and requires a deep dive into medical nuances and the law. 

Navigating the aftermath of a medical procedure that didn’t go as planned can be hard. If you or a loved one has been injured because of a doctor’s (or a team of medical professional’s) negligence, here’s what you need to know about bringing a medical malpractice lawsuit against multiple defendants. 

Establishing the Expected Standards of Care 

Many medical malpractice lawsuits hinge on a specific concept: standard of care. This is a legal benchmark that sets the minimum level of competent treatment healthcare professionals must provide to patients. These standards are based on what a reasonable professional in the same field would do in similar circumstances. They are shaped by the specifics of the medical discipline, patient health conditions, and advancements in healthcare practices.  

The expected standards of care will change with each defendant in your medical malpractice case, but they will always be the basis of establishing liability. 

How to Determine Liability in a Medical Malpractice Case with Multiple Defendants 

Establishing liability in a medical malpractice case against multiple doctors or medical professionals is not about casting a wide net and hoping for the best. It’s about precision—identifying exactly how and when each healthcare provider failed to meet the expected standard of care. This determination will be the cornerstone of your case and must be established with each individual person named in the suit. You may only be able to establish liability with some and not all of the people who treated you. However, if your medical malpractice lawyer is able to establish liability on the part of one or more of those people, you can still be compensated.

Proving liability for each defendant named requires a thorough documentation review that encompasses patient records, treatment plans, and any correspondence related to care. Expert witnesses will also play a pivotal role, as they can offer the professional insight needed to explain complex medical scenarios to juries and pinpoint deviations from standard practices. 

There are generally four major elements of a medical malpractice lawsuit:

1. Duty of Care: You must show there was a professional relationship between you and each of the healthcare providers, establishing that the providers owed you a duty of care. 
2. Breach of Duty: This is a breach in the standard of care. It could be an act of omission (failing to do something) or commission (doing something wrong) 
3. Causation: There must be a direct link between the healthcare provider’s breach of duty and your injury. You need to prove that the injury would not have occurred otherwise. 
4. Damages: You must have suffered harm or injury due to the care breach. This can be anything from physical to mental, emotional, or financial. 

Who Can Be Sued for Medical Malpractice? 

While any healthcare provider can potentially face a malpractice lawsuit, certain specialties are more prone to legal scrutiny. Who can be named in each case will vary greatly depending on the circumstances, and our medical malpractice attorneys at Morelli Law can help make this determination in your case. 

Some of the most common types of medical professionals who face lawsuits include: 

1. Surgeons: These doctors navigate high-risk procedures where the margin for error is slim but results in heavy consequences.  
2. Obstetricians/gynecologists: There are many things that can go wrong in childbirth, both for the mother and the child/children being born. 
3. General practitioners: Often the first point of contact, they face the challenge of making wide-ranging diagnoses under shorter time constraints.  
4. Anesthesiologists: Because of the precision required in anesthesiology, many things can go wrong. This includes administering the wrong medication or wrong dose, improperly intubating a patient, and other mishaps. 

How a Medical Malpractice Lawyer Can Help You with Your Case

Medical malpractice cases, especially those that involve multiple medical professionals, require a team of attorneys and medical experts to properly settle or litigate. At Morelli Law, we have spent decades representing clients in some of the most complex medical malpractice cases. We work with our clients to help them get the justice they deserve. Each step in your case, from establishing the standard of care to proving liability and seeking compensation, requires precision, expertise, and unwavering dedication. 

Find the Right Legal Partner Today

With the right legal partner, patients and their families can effectively pursue justice against multiple healthcare providers, securing the compensation necessary for recovery and closure. If you find yourself grappling with the aftermath of a medical procedure that has gone wrong, remember, you’re not alone. The experienced medical malpractice lawyers at Morelli Law are here to provide the guidance, support, and representation you need to get through this challenging time. Call us today for a free consultation.