Doctor Who?

A local man is facing criminal charges for holding himself out as a doctor and performing cosmetic procedure treatments on several patients in his apartment. The treatments, during which the man injected silicone into the victim’s buttocks to change their size and appearance, cost thousands of dollars each; unfortunately for the victims, the man was not licensed to perform the procedures. Additionally,  he did not tell the victims they were being injected with silicone.

No Medical Malpractice This Time

We have seen several stories in the news lately about cosmetic procedures that have gone wrong despite being performed by practitioners who actually do have licensure to perform them, and in those cases we can usually look at the victims’ options as part of a medical malpractice case. In this case, however, the man was not a medical professional at all, it seems, at least according to the reports in which authorities say he was not licensed to perform the procedures. If, in fact, the man was not a medical professional, then a medical malpractice case is likely not the correct course of action for the plaintiffs; it is likely that they will have other remedies in the civil courts for any personal injuries they have suffered.

Statute Of Limitations Issues

The differences between a medical malpractice case and a personal injury case are numerous, to be sure, but one difference that may work to the victims’ advantage in a case such as this is that victims suffering from personal injuries have a longer time period after the injury to file a claim to recover damages. The time limit during which a case must be filed is known as a statute of limitations and, in medical malpractice cases, the time limit is two years. A personal injury case, on the other hand, has a statute of limitations twice as long – victims have four years after the injury to file their case, when the case is based on negligence.

The Importance Of Legal Advice

Any case involving injury, whether sustained through medical malpractice or just negligence itself, can be complex and complicated depending upon the individual facts. For these reasons, it is imperative that you speak with an experienced personal injury attorney who can review the matter and determine the correct way to proceed within the court system.

Do You Need Help With A Personal Injury Matter?

If you or someone you love has suffered personal injuries as a result of someone’s negligence – whether it is a medical professional or someone pretending to be one – you will want to pursue compensation for your injuries. Because your time limit to file a case depends upon the specific type of case you are filing, you need to speak with an attorney who can help you understand your rights and responsibilities from the start. Do not risk losing out on the right to recovery for damages owed to you. Contact Boone & Davis at 954.556.5260 or online right now and schedule your appointment with one of our legal professionals. The Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorneys at our firm are ready to help you get started today.

Resource:

nbcmiami.com/news/local/Hallandale-Beach-Man-Pleads-Guilty-to-Impersonating-Doctor-Injecting-Silicone-Into-Patients-396929761.html