Medical negligence is highly complex, how do I know if I am adequately represented by a lawyer? Key considerations before engaging a lawyer to support my claim.

Medical negligence claims can be complex, and having a knowledgable lawyer on your side is essential to ensuring your rights are protected and that you ahve the best chance of obtaining fair compensation for the harm you have surffered.

At Stern Law, we are a team of professionals workingwith empathy, experiened in supporting individuals who have suffered personal injuries or medical negligence. We are committed to guide and assess the merits of your case, navigate through complex legal processes and providing the best possible outcomes.

#1 – How much does it cost?

Stern Law acts on a ‘No win no fee’ basis in compensation claims, initial consultation is free. Outc redo is that a successful outcome must be a genuine ‘win-win’ where at the end of the day, the client is comfortable with the result and considers it a win, even if it is as a restult of compromise.

#2 – Knowing what I could be compensated

Compensation may include medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other ddamanges. The exact compensation depends on the specifics of the case.

“If you believe you have suffered harm due to a healthcare provider’s negligence, we can assess the specifics of you situation and determine the viability of your claim.”

#3 – Credibility and expertise of the lawyer

Terry is one of the most experience medical negligence lawyers in NSW, having worked in this field for 35 years. Terry’s advocacy and experience has resulted in clietns obtaining optimal results, many exceeding $5 million. Many of those cases settle at mediation and are not publicly availble because they are resolved on a confidential basis.

#4 – Highly experienced in birth trauma claims

Terry has achieved excellent results in birth trauma cases, helping change the lives of carers through access to large amounts of damages achieved through litigation. Terry has been an expert in the area of birth trauma since 1984 when he obtained a successful outcome for a plaintiff in the Supreme Court of NSW decision of Omopoulos v Papetros & Anor (unreported jury trial). In that case, an obstetrician was found to have, through incompetence, fractured the skull of the baby during a forcep delivery, resulting in cerebral palsy/ spastic quadriplegia.

#5 – Specialist in medical midsdiagnosis claims

In 2018, Terry obtaiend a multi-million dollar settlement in a significant case against a medical practitioner and hospital. One of Terry’s landmark case was O’Shea v Sullivan (1994) Aust Torts Report 81-273 (SCNSW). In this case, a leading pathology service, Macquarie Pathology, and Ms O’Shea’s GP were found to have misdiagnosed her positive cervical screen (pap smear). Ms O’Shea’s symptoms included breakthrough bleeding after intercourse but because she was in her 20s, it was not properly investigated. The case highlighted the inadequacies of Austrlia’s cervical screening procedures at that time.

Terry achieved a nationally significant result, not only in financial terms, but also with a result prompted a government investigation into cervical-cancer screening in Australia and in the mid-1990s, and indirectly resulted in changes in medical practice regarding the early diagnosis of cancer (carcinoma in situ) in young women.

#6 – Expert Medical Opinions

Stern Law prides itself on using medical professionals who are highly regarded and at the top of their field with recent clinical experiences. It is crucial that our specilist medical negligence solicitors can rely on the expert opinions as the foundations for building a persuasive and successful case. Where most medical negligence firms go wrong is the use of agencies to find medical experts where they are not held to the same standard.

#7 – Ethical Standards

Principle solicitor, Terry Stern, is an honorary member of the Law Society’s ethics committee, and his dedication to the ethical obligations of solicitors is imbedded in the foundations of Stern Law. His team have embraced his passion for ethics in the field of law, and this is something that our clients recognise and value in our work, alongside our ability to win complex cases.

What you could expect from Stern Law

It is crucial to highlight that the value of a medical negligence claim is case-specific. Stern Law has a strong record of successfully acting for plaintiffs in compensation claims who have suffered loss and damage due to the conduct of another person. We have an Accredited Specialist in Personal Injury Law with expertise in all areas of personal injury and medical negligence. At Stern Law, our goal is to pursue a fair resolution efficiently while ensuring our clients receive the compensation they deserve.