Physician Malpractice
When Medical Care Falls Below the Standard Patients Deserve
We trust physicians with our lives - often during moments of fear or uncertainty. But when a doctor’s error or inattention causes preventable harm, the consequences can be life-altering.
At GPJ Legal, we represent patients and families across New Mexico who have been injured due to physician malpractice. With over 35 years of experience in civil trial litigation and medical negligence, our firm helps victims seek accountability and the financial recovery they deserve after serious medical mistakes.
What Is Physician Malpractice?
Physician malpractice occurs when a doctor fails to meet the accepted standard of medical care, causing injury or death to a patient. These cases often involve preventable diagnostic errors, improper treatment decisions, or failures in communication and follow-up.
Common examples include:
Misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis
Medication or prescription errors
Surgical or anesthesia mistakes
Failure to obtain informed consent
Ignoring test results or failing to order necessary testing
Failure to refer to specialists when appropriate
Neglecting post-operative or follow-up care
Hospital discharge errors or premature release
When physicians deviate from accepted standards, patients can suffer lasting harm. GPJ Legal works with independent medical experts to examine what went wrong and determine whether the doctor’s negligence caused the injury.
Injuries Caused by Physician Negligence
Physician malpractice can result in a wide range of serious injuries, including:
Permanent disability or loss of function
Organ failure or infection
Adverse drug reactions
Brain or nerve damage
Unnecessary surgery or medical complications
Worsening of untreated medical conditions
Wrongful death
Our attorneys evaluate every aspect of care—from initial consultation to final treatment—to uncover errors that could and should have been prevented.
What Compensation May Cover
A successful physician malpractice claim can provide compensation for:
Medical expenses and ongoing care
Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
Rehabilitation or long-term therapy
Pain and suffering
Emotional distress and loss of quality of life
Wrongful death damages for surviving family members
These cases often involve complex financial and medical issues. GPJ Legal partners with medical specialists, economists, and life-care planners to accurately present the full impact of a physician’s negligence.
Why Patients Trust GPJ Legal for Their Physician Malpractice Cases
✔ Proven Experience
Physician malpractice cases demand both medical insight and trial strength. Our attorneys have decades of experience in high-stakes litigation, giving clients confidence at every step.
✔ Strategic Perspective
We’ve represented both plaintiffs and insurers in complex medical cases. That dual experience allows us to anticipate defense tactics and craft stronger, more effective strategies for our clients.
✔ Respectful, Client-Focused Advocacy
We understand that malpractice cases involve more than medical records—they involve people’s lives. GPJ Legal treats every client with compassion, dignity, and dedication while fighting to ensure accountability and meaningful results.
What is physician malpractice?
To prove malpractice, four elements must be shown: duty, breach, causation, and damages. This means the doctor had a duty to provide competent care, failed to meet that duty, and that failure directly caused injury. GPJ Legal works with medical experts to analyze records, identify negligence, and build strong, evidence-based claims.
How do I prove a doctor committed malpractice?
To prove malpractice, four elements must be shown: duty, breach, causation, and damages. This means the doctor had a duty to provide competent care, failed to meet that duty, and that failure directly caused injury. GPJ Legal works with medical experts to analyze records, identify negligence, and build strong, evidence-based claims.
What are the most common types of physician negligence?
Common examples include misdiagnosis, delayed diagnosis, surgical mistakes, medication errors, and failure to obtain informed consent. Other types include neglecting to monitor a patient after surgery or failing to follow up on abnormal test results. Each of these errors can have serious and lasting consequences for patients and their families.
Is a bad outcome always considered malpractice?
No. Not every bad medical outcome is the result of negligence. Complications can occur even when a doctor provides proper care. A case becomes malpractice only when the physician’s conduct deviates from what a reasonably skilled professional would have done in the same situation.
How long do I have to file a malpractice claim in New Mexico?
In most cases, you have three years from the date of the negligent act or from when the injury was discovered. There are exceptions for minors or when a healthcare provider intentionally conceals an error. GPJ Legal ensures that clients meet every filing deadline to preserve their right to compensation.
What compensation can I recover in a malpractice case?
Damages may include medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and future care costs. In severe cases involving reckless or intentional conduct, punitive damages may also be available to punish wrongdoing and prevent future negligence.
What is informed consent in a physician malpractice case?
Informed consent requires doctors to explain the risks, benefits, and alternatives of a procedure or treatment before it takes place. If a physician fails to inform a patient about major risks and injury occurs, that lack of consent may form the basis for a malpractice claim.
Are medical experts needed in a physician malpractice case?
Yes. Medical experts are required to explain what the accepted standard of care is and how it was violated. Their testimony helps juries understand whether a doctor’s decisions or omissions caused injury and whether the care was below professional standards.
Can hospitals be held liable for a doctor’s negligence?
Yes. Hospitals can be responsible if the physician was their employee or if the facility failed to properly hire, train, or supervise medical staff. They may also be liable for unsafe policies or understaffing that contributed to patient injury.
Why should I hire a malpractice attorney?
Physician malpractice cases are complex and require expert review, medical knowledge, and strict procedural compliance. GPJ Legal has extensive experience in handling medical malpractice claims, guiding patients and families through the process, and fighting to hold negligent healthcare providers accountable.
Let's Discuss Your Case
When a trusted doctor makes a preventable mistake, the results can be devastating and life-changing. At GPJ Legal, our experienced New Mexico medical malpractice attorneys fight for patients and families who have suffered due to physician negligence - seeking justice, accountability, and the financial recovery needed to rebuild their lives.