Rhode Island Failure to Treat Attorney

Let Our Team Hold Healthcare Providers Liable for Their Failure

When you seek medical help, you trust your doctor or healthcare provider to take your symptoms seriously, diagnose your condition, and provide appropriate treatment. Unfortunately, that trust is sometimes broken when a medical professional fails to provide timely or necessary care. If you or a loved one has suffered harm because a healthcare provider failed to treat a medical condition, you may have a valid medical malpractice claim. At Decof, Mega & Quinn, P.C., our experienced Rhode Island failure to treat lawyers are here to fight for justice and help you secure the compensation you deserve.

To discuss your situation and explore how we can assist you, please contact us at (401) 200-4059 for a free consultation.

What is Failure to Treat?

Failure to treat is a form of medical malpractice that occurs when a healthcare professional does not provide the necessary medical care to a patient, even after identifying or suspecting a medical condition. This failure may happen after a diagnosis is made or when clear signs of a serious condition are ignored.

A failure to treat can have devastating consequences. A condition that could have been managed or cured with prompt intervention may become significantly worse or even fatal due to inaction. When a doctor or hospital fails to uphold the standard of care expected in the medical community, they may be held liable for damages.

Common Examples of Failure to Treat

Failure to treat can take many forms. Some of the most common examples include:

• Delayed Treatment: Doctors may recognize a condition but delay care unnecessarily, giving the illness time to progress and cause further harm. For example, waiting too long to treat an infection can lead to sepsis, a potentially deadly complication.
• Ignoring Test Results: If test results show signs of a medical issue and a physician fails to act on them, the consequences can be severe. For example, not following up on abnormal blood work or imaging results can delay diagnosis and treatment of cancer or organ failure.
• Premature Discharge: A hospital may send a patient home without adequately treating or stabilizing their condition. This can result in preventable complications and re-admissions.
• Failure to Refer to a Specialist: Some conditions require care from a specialist. If a primary care physician or emergency room doctor fails to refer a patient to the appropriate specialist, they may be responsible for any resulting harm.
• Not Treating Chronic or Worsening Conditions: Doctors must actively manage chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, or autoimmune disorders. Failure to adjust medications, monitor symptoms, or follow up regularly may constitute malpractice.

Common Causes of Failure to Treat

Understanding why these failures happen is crucial to building a strong legal claim. Some of the most common causes include:

• Miscommunication: Errors in communication between doctors, nurses, and administrative staff can lead to treatment delays or missed care entirely. In a busy hospital, a critical note or lab result may fall through the cracks.
• Understaffing and Burnout: Hospitals and clinics stretched too thin may rush through patient evaluations or overlook warning signs. Fatigue and high patient loads contribute to medical oversight.
• Diagnostic Errors: A misdiagnosis or failure to diagnose often leads to failure to treat. If the wrong condition is identified, the real illness remains unaddressed.
• Administrative Errors: Scheduling mistakes, lost paperwork, and failure to update medical records can prevent timely and appropriate treatment.
• Discrimination or Bias: Sadly, some patients—especially those from marginalized communities—may experience neglect or dismissal of symptoms due to unconscious bias or prejudice.

Failure to Treat FAQs

How do I know if I have a valid failure to treat claim?
If a doctor failed to provide necessary treatment and you suffered harm as a result, you may have a claim. Our Rhode Island failure to treat attorney can review your medical records and determine whether malpractice occurred.

What kind of compensation can I receive?
Compensation in a failure to treat claim may include:

• Past and future medical expenses
• Lost income and earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Wrongful death damages (if a loved one passed away)

Is there a time limit to file a failure to treat lawsuit in Rhode Island?
Yes. In Rhode Island, the statute of limitations for medical malpractice is typically three years from the date the malpractice occurred—or from when it reasonably should have been discovered. However, exceptions may apply. It's essential to act quickly and consult an attorney to preserve your rights.

Who can be held liable for failure to treat?
Potentially liable parties include:

• Primary care doctors
• Specialists
• Hospitals and urgent care centers
• Nurses or physician assistants
• Medical institutions that employ or supervise negligent staff

What if the patient had an underlying condition?
Even if you had a pre-existing condition, failure to provide proper treatment that worsened your health or led to complications may still qualify as malpractice. Doctors are expected to take all health conditions into account when treating patients.

Contact a Rhode Island Failure to Treat Lawyer Today

If you or someone you love has been harmed because a healthcare provider failed to deliver necessary medical treatment, you deserve answers—and justice. At Decof, Mega & Quinn, P.C., our dedicated Rhode Island failure to treat lawyers will listen to your story, investigate the facts, and pursue full compensation on your behalf.

Let us help you hold negligent providers accountable and secure the resources you need to heal and move forward.

Contact Decof, Mega & Quinn, P.C.—where your pursuit of justice is championed by professionals who truly care.