The Moses Firm | October 9, 2026 | Medical Malpractice
If you believe you were harmed by negligent medical care at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia, it can be difficult to know what to do next. A serious medical complication can leave you facing additional treatment, unexpected expenses, and questions about whether your care met accepted professional standards.
Not every poor outcome is medical malpractice. However, taking certain steps can help protect your health and preserve important information if you later decide to investigate a potential claim.
Seek Medical Attention for Ongoing or Worsening Problems
Your health should be your first priority. If your symptoms are worsening, new complications have developed, or you believe something went wrong with your treatment, consider seeking appropriate medical attention.
In some situations, another healthcare provider may be able to diagnose a complication or recommend corrective treatment. Additional medical care may also create documentation showing how your condition developed after the treatment you believe caused harm.
Do not stop taking prescribed medication or ignore medical instructions without first consulting a qualified healthcare provider.
Request and Preserve Your Medical Records
Medical records can play an important role in determining what happened during your treatment. Under the federal HIPAA Privacy Rule, patients generally have the right to inspect and obtain copies of their medical and billing records, subject to limited exceptions.
Depending on the treatment involved, relevant records may include:
- Physician and nursing notes
- Laboratory and diagnostic test results
- X-rays and other imaging
- Operative reports
- Medication records
- Consent forms
- Discharge and follow-up instructions
Keep copies of records you receive, along with bills and documentation from any additional treatment you require.
Document What Happened
Write down what you remember about your treatment while the details are still fresh. A clear timeline can help organize the facts and identify important information that may later be relevant.
Consider documenting:
- Dates of appointments, procedures, and hospital stays
- Names of doctors, nurses, and other providers involved
- Symptoms you reported before and after treatment
- Important conversations with medical staff
- Additional treatment or procedures you required
- Time missed from work
- Out-of-pocket medical or travel expenses
- New physical limitations or ongoing symptoms
This documentation does not prove malpractice on its own, but it can help create a clearer picture of what occurred.
Get a Second Medical Opinion
A second medical opinion can help you better understand your condition and determine whether additional treatment is necessary. Another qualified provider may also be able to explain whether your symptoms are a recognized complication of the procedure or treatment you received.
Medical malpractice cases often involve technical questions about what a reasonably competent healthcare provider should have done under similar circumstances. An independent medical evaluation may help clarify those issues.
Do Not Assume a Complication Automatically Means Malpractice
A complication or unfavorable result does not necessarily mean medical malpractice occurred. Some procedures involve known risks even when doctors and other healthcare professionals provide appropriate care.
Potential malpractice may involve conduct such as:
- Surgical errors
- Medication mistakes
- Misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis
- Anesthesia errors
- Failure to monitor a patient
- Failure to respond appropriately to complications
Generally, a medical malpractice claim requires evidence that a healthcare provider failed to meet the applicable professional standard of care and that this failure caused an injury.
Be Aware of Georgia’s Filing Deadlines
Georgia imposes strict deadlines on medical malpractice lawsuits. Under O.C.G.A. § 9-3-71, a medical malpractice action generally must be filed within two years after the injury or death resulting from the alleged negligent act or omission.
Georgia law also generally imposes a five-year statute of repose measured from the date of the negligent or wrongful act or omission. Exceptions can affect these deadlines in certain circumstances.
Additionally, Georgia medical malpractice complaints generally must include an expert affidavit identifying at least one negligent act or omission and the factual basis for that allegation under O.C.G.A. § 9-11-9.1.
Contact the Moses Firm: Medical Malpractice Lawyers for a Free Consultation With an Atlanta Medical Malpractice Attorney
If you suspect that negligent medical care at Emory University Hospital caused you harm, it may be important to have your treatment and medical records reviewed carefully. A medical malpractice claim can involve complex questions about the applicable standard of care, causation, and the extent of your damages.
The Moses Firm: Medical Malpractice Lawyers has 50 years of combined experience and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for clients. Contact the firm today to schedule a free consultation with an Atlanta medical malpractice lawyer.
For more information, contact our law firm at The Moses Firm: Medical Malpractice Lawyers to schedule a free consultation with an Atlanta medical malpractice lawyer in Atlanta, GA, today.
We are proud to serve clients throughout Atlanta, Fulton County, and the surrounding communities in Georgia.
The Moses Firm
3490 Piedmont Rd NE #1206,
Atlanta, GA 30305
(404) 721-1050
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