Maine Medical Malpractice Ruling Could Affect Misdiagnosis Cases
side note: This is a big deal in terms of the interpretation of tort reforms. The Maine Supreme Court has essentially voided the state’s statute of limitations with a new interpretation of the “continuing negligent action doctrine.” As the defense counsel stated: This ruling will “inevitably have the effect of making medical malpractice litigation more protracted and more expensive.”
08/30/2011 Reported By: Susan Sharon
This month the Maine Supreme Court issued a ruling in a medical malpractice lawsuit that some say has big implications for a narrow class of cases involving patient misdiagnosis and treatment. For the first time, the Court has agreed to allow a patient to bring a case of professional negligence against his doctor that extends beyond a three-year statute of limitations.