You went to the doctor expecting answers, relief, or a plan to move forward. Instead, something went wrong. The diagnosis didn’t make sense. A procedure led to complications. A medical decision put your health at risk instead of protecting it.

Now, you’re looking for answers, and that search has brought you here.

For more than 60 years, Meshbesher & Spence has stood beside Minnesotans when medical negligence causes harm. A Minneapolis medical malpractice lawyer from our team is ready to listen.

Call (612) 339-9121 or contact us online to talk about what you’ve been through.

“I couldn’t have been more impressed by the representation Meshbesher and Spence provided in my malpractice lawsuit… They made me and my wife feel at ease during the whole process. They were fully prepared and their professionalism and hard work ethic was shown in the end. I felt I was represented by the best lawyers period.”

– Alex G. | Client

What Is Medical Malpractice?

Doctors make decisions every day that impact their patients’ health. Most of the time, those decisions help, but not always. When a provider makes a choice that no reasonable medical professional would have made under similar circumstances, the results can be devastating.

A medical mistake doesn’t automatically mean malpractice. Treatment doesn’t always go as planned, and complications can happen even when providers deliver appropriate care. The key question is whether a healthcare professional failed to meet the accepted standard of care and whether that failure caused injury.

Examples of medical malpractice include:

Missing a diagnosis
Delaying treatment for a serious condition
Operating on the wrong body part or patient
Giving the wrong anesthesia dosage
Making mistakes in the emergency room
Performing a procedure without informed consent
Failing to provide necessary treatment
Neglecting follow-up care
Causing birth injuries

Determining whether malpractice occurred requires reviewing the medical decisions made throughout your treatment. A Minneapolis medical malpractice attorney can evaluate your records and help determine whether you may have a claim.

What Must Be Proven in a Minneapolis Medical Malpractice Case?

A medical malpractice claim can become complicated quickly, but an experienced Minneapolis medical malpractice lawyer can guide you through the process. To recover compensation, Minnesota law generally requires proving four elements.

A Doctor-Patient Relationship Existed

You must show that a formal relationship existed between you and the healthcare provider. Medical records typically establish this relationship by showing the provider agreed to diagnose or treat you. Informal advice from a physician outside a professional setting generally does not create this relationship.

The Medical Provider Was Negligent

Negligence means the provider failed to deliver the level of care a reasonably competent medical professional would have provided under similar circumstances.

A poor outcome alone doesn’t establish malpractice. Minnesota law requires a qualified medical expert to prepare a sworn affidavit explaining how the provider departed from accepted medical standards.

The Negligence Caused Your Injury

You must demonstrate that the provider’s negligence directly caused your injury. In other words, the harm would not have occurred had appropriate medical care been provided.

You Suffered Damages

Finally, you must show that the negligence resulted in measurable losses, such as:

Additional medical expenses
Lost wages
Future medical care
Physical pain
Emotional suffering
Permanent disability

A Closer Look at Medical Malpractice in Minneapolis

Minneapolis is home to some of Minnesota’s most respected healthcare institutions, but even nationally recognized hospitals are not immune from preventable medical errors.

Medical malpractice can occur at any healthcare facility, regardless of its reputation.

Some of the largest healthcare systems serving Minneapolis include:

Hennepin Healthcare
Allina Health
University of Minnesota Medical Center

Over the past three decades, more than 19,000 medical malpractice lawsuits have been filed throughout Minnesota, resulting in more than $1.2 billion in payouts.

If your case proceeds to litigation, it will likely be handled through Hennepin County District Court. Meshbesher & Spence regularly represents clients throughout Minneapolis and understands both Minnesota malpractice law and local court procedures.

How Do You Know If Medical Malpractice Played a Role?

Medical treatment doesn’t always produce the outcome you expected. Some illnesses progress despite appropriate care. Others become significantly worse because warning signs were overlooked or treatment was delayed.

Questions worth asking include:

Did a doctor dismiss your symptoms? Ignoring warning signs or failing to order appropriate testing may allow a treatable condition to become much more serious.
Were test results misread or ignored? A missed infection, undiagnosed cancer, or overlooked heart condition can delay treatment when time matters most.
Did a medication error cause harm? Prescription mistakes, incorrect dosages, or dangerous drug interactions can create severe complications.
Did a surgical mistake occur? Wrong-site surgery, retained surgical instruments, or preventable infections can transform a routine procedure into a life-changing injury.
Did negligent care lead to additional injuries? Hospital-acquired infections, untreated pressure ulcers, anesthesia errors, and failures to monitor patients may all point to substandard care.

Determining whether malpractice occurred requires more than suspicion. Hospitals rarely volunteer that a preventable error occurred, and medical records often require careful review.

Meshbesher & Spence investigates the facts, consults qualified medical experts, and helps families determine whether negligence caused their injuries.

How Medical Malpractice Can Change Your Life

Medical malpractice can affect nearly every part of a person’s life. Some injuries heal with additional treatment. Others create permanent disabilities, require lifelong medical care, or result in the loss of a loved one.

The type of injury often depends on the medical error involved.

Delayed or Missed Diagnoses

When serious conditions go undiagnosed, patients lose valuable time. Cancer may spread before treatment begins. An untreated infection can develop into sepsis. A heart attack mistaken for indigestion may leave permanent damage that earlier intervention could have prevented.

Surgical Mistakes

Errors during surgery can lead to nerve damage, internal injuries, severe infections, or additional operations. In some cases, patients experience permanent disabilities that affect their ability to work and care for themselves.

Medication Errors

Incorrect prescriptions, dangerous drug interactions, and dosage mistakes can cause allergic reactions, organ damage, respiratory distress, and other life-threatening complications.

Anesthesia Errors

Improper anesthesia administration or inadequate monitoring can deprive the brain of oxygen, resulting in permanent neurological injuries. Some patients experience anesthesia awareness during surgery, causing lasting physical and emotional trauma.

Birth Injuries

Mistakes during labor and delivery can leave children with lifelong medical conditions such as cerebral palsy or brachial plexus injuries. Families often face years of therapy, specialized medical care, adaptive equipment, and significant financial strain.

Medical malpractice rarely affects only the patient. Families often become caregivers, household finances change, and everyday routines revolve around ongoing medical appointments and recovery. When we evaluate a medical malpractice claim, we look beyond the immediate injury to understand how the negligence has changed every aspect of your life, both now and in the future.

You Deserve Answers After a Preventable Medical Error

When medical providers fail to meet accepted standards of care, patients and families are often left trying to understand what happened while facing mounting medical bills and an uncertain future.

Meshbesher & Spence investigates complex medical negligence claims, works with respected medical experts, and holds negligent healthcare providers accountable throughout Minnesota.

Call (612) 339-9121 or contact us online today for a free consultation with an experienced Minneapolis medical malpractice attorney.

Fighting for Families Across Minneapolis

Meshbesher & Spence has represented families facing some of the most difficult moments of their lives, securing the financial resources they needed after preventable medical errors.

Failure to Diagnose Pre-Eclampsia

A 16-year-old from St. Paul showed signs of pre-eclampsia but was sent home from a clinic without appropriate treatment. Days later, she suffered seizures that caused brain damage and ultimately claimed her life. Her child survived. The case settled, providing financial support for the child’s future.

Surgical Negligence Leads to Amputation

A routine medical procedure resulted in an infection that went untreated for too long. The patient ultimately lost a limb. The settlement helped provide ongoing medical treatment, rehabilitation, and mobility resources.

Doctor Misdiagnoses Life-Threatening Fever and Rash

An 11-year-old repeatedly sought medical care for a persistent fever and rash. Appropriate testing was never performed. The delayed diagnosis of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever resulted in permanent disabilities. A jury awarded $9 million to help provide lifelong care.

Who Can Be Held Responsible for Medical Malpractice in Minneapolis?

Medical malpractice is not always the result of one person’s mistake. Errors often develop through breakdowns in communication, unsafe policies, inadequate supervision, or failures across an entire healthcare system. Depending on the facts, several parties may share responsibility.

Hospitals and healthcare systems
Physicians
Nurses and medical staff
Pharmacists
Anesthesiologists
Dentists
Medical device and pharmaceutical manufacturers

Our Minneapolis medical malpractice attorneys investigate every aspect of a patient’s care to identify all potentially responsible parties. Holding the correct individuals and organizations accountable helps ensure every source of compensation is considered.

How Can a Minneapolis Malpractice Lawyer Help?

Medical malpractice cases involve complex medical issues, strict legal requirements, and hospitals backed by experienced defense attorneys. Having an attorney allows you to focus on your recovery while someone else manages the legal process.

Meshbesher & Spence helps clients by:

Determining whether you have a case. Not every poor medical outcome results from malpractice. We review your medical records, consult with qualified medical experts, and evaluate whether your healthcare provider failed to meet the accepted standard of care.
Managing the legal process. Medical malpractice lawsuits involve strict filing deadlines, expert affidavit requirements, extensive records, and complicated court procedures. We manage every step of the process so you don’t have to navigate it alone.
Protecting your interests. Hospitals and insurance companies often begin evaluating claims immediately. We handle communications, negotiate on your behalf, and protect your rights throughout your case.
Calculating your losses. Medical negligence can create expenses that continue for years. We work to understand the full financial, physical, and emotional impact of your injuries so your claim reflects both current and future damages.

How We Help You Meet Minnesota's Legal Filing Requirements

Minnesota medical malpractice claims must meet strict legal requirements before they can move forward. Missing a filing deadline or failing to submit the required expert affidavits can result in a case being dismissed before the court ever considers the evidence.

Our Minneapolis medical malpractice attorneys guide clients through each requirement from the beginning of the case, helping ensure every deadline and procedural requirement is met.

Under Minnesota Statutes section 145.682, most medical malpractice lawsuits require two expert affidavits.

Affidavit of Expert Review. This affidavit is filed with the complaint and confirms that a qualified medical expert has reviewed the case and believes the healthcare provider departed from the accepted standard of care.
Affidavit of Expert Identification. This affidavit is generally served within 180 days after discovery begins. It identifies the medical experts who will testify and summarizes the opinions they are expected to offer during the case.

Failure to properly serve either affidavit can result in dismissal of the lawsuit.

Minnesota also imposes strict filing deadlines. In most cases, patients have four years from the date the claim accrued to file a lawsuit. Some exceptions apply, including cases involving children, fraud, or foreign objects left inside a patient’s body. Claims involving certain public healthcare facilities may also require additional notice under Minnesota law.

How We Build Strong Medical Malpractice Cases

Medical malpractice claims require evidence that clearly demonstrates how a healthcare provider failed to meet the accepted standard of care and how that failure caused injury.

Our approach includes:

Conducting a thorough investigation. We gather medical records, review diagnostic testing, establish treatment timelines, and identify the decisions that led to preventable harm.
Working with qualified medical experts. Minnesota law requires expert testimony in nearly every medical malpractice case. We work with respected physicians and specialists who evaluate the care provided and explain where it fell below accepted medical standards.
Documenting the full extent of your damages. A successful claim must demonstrate more than negligence. We work with physicians, life-care planners, vocational experts, and economists to understand the long-term impact of your injuries.
Preparing every case for trial. Although many cases settle, we prepare every case as though it will be presented to a jury. Thorough preparation strengthens negotiations and ensures we’re ready if trial becomes necessary.

What Compensation Is Available in a Minneapolis Medical Malpractice Case?

Depending on the circumstances, compensation may include:

Economic Damages

Past and future medical expenses
Rehabilitation and therapy
Lost wages
Reduced earning capacity
Long-term nursing or in-home care
Medical equipment and assistive devices

Non-Economic Damages

Physical pain
Emotional distress
Permanent disability
Disfigurement
Loss of enjoyment of life

Wrongful Death Damages

When medical negligence results in the loss of a loved one, surviving family members may pursue damages under Minnesota’s wrongful death laws. Compensation may include funeral expenses, lost financial support, and the loss of guidance, companionship, and services the deceased would have provided.

Our attorneys work with physicians, life-care planners, vocational experts, and economists to calculate both current and future losses so your claim reflects the full impact the negligence has had on your life.

What Should You Do If You Think Medical Malpractice Occurred in Minneapolis?

If you believe a preventable medical error caused your injury, taking a few important steps early can help protect both your health and your legal rights.

Seek appropriate medical care. Your health comes first. If possible, obtain treatment from another qualified healthcare provider who can address your condition and document your injuries.
Request your medical records. Ask each hospital, clinic, physician, and healthcare provider involved in your treatment for a complete copy of your medical records. These records often become the foundation of a medical malpractice investigation.
Document what happened. Write down the timeline of your care while the details remain fresh. Include appointments, symptoms, conversations with healthcare providers, treatments received, and how the injury has affected your daily life.
Preserve important documents. Keep medical bills, insurance statements, prescription information, photographs, correspondence, and any other records related to your treatment together in one location.
Speak with an experienced medical malpractice attorney. Medical malpractice claims are governed by strict legal deadlines and expert witness requirements. Speaking with an attorney early allows important evidence to be preserved while your legal options are evaluated.

Your Health Wasn't Treated Like a Priority. Your Case Will Be.

Patients place tremendous trust in the healthcare professionals responsible for their care. When preventable medical errors cause serious harm, families deserve answers, accountability, and experienced legal representation.

For more than 60 years, Meshbesher & Spence has represented Minnesotans affected by medical negligence. Our Minneapolis medical malpractice lawyers handle claims involving delayed diagnoses, surgical errors, medication mistakes, birth injuries, and other forms of preventable medical negligence.

If you believe you or someone you love was injured because a healthcare provider failed to meet the accepted standard of care, we’re ready to review your case. Call (612) 339-9121 or contact us online today for a free consultation.

Medical Malpractice FAQs

• How long do I have to file a malpractice claim in Minneapolis?

Minnesota law gives you four years, but time isn’t on your side. Medical records get lost, memories fade, and the other side starts building their defense long before you file. Waiting only helps them.
• What do I need to prove medical malpractice in Minneapolis?

Medical mistakes only count as malpractice if a provider ignored accepted standards. That takes a close look at test results, surgical records, and expert opinions to show where the care fell short.
• What if my loved one died due to medical malpractice in Minneapolis?

Some medical mistakes take away a family’s chance to say goodbye. A wrongful death claim holds providers accountable and helps secure financial support for those left behind.
• How much does hiring a Minneapolis medical malpractice lawyer cost?

Nothing upfront. Meshbesher & Spence only gets paid if your case is successful.
• What should I consider when choosing a medical malpractice lawyer in Minneapolis?

Medical malpractice cases are complicated, so you’ll want a lawyer who has extensive experience handling cases related to yours. Don’t just check that they practice in this area. Ask about the number of cases they’ve taken to trial or successfully settled, and what kinds of results they’ve achieved for past clients. Look for someone who truly understands medical records, expert medical testimony, and the steps involved in proving negligence.
• How do I find the right medical malpractice lawyer in Minneapolis?

Start by looking for lawyers who handle medical malpractice cases in Minnesota and have experience winning or settling similar claims. Check their past results, client reviews, or any professional recognition to see how they perform. Take advantage of a free consultation, and come prepared with questions about their strategy, timeline, and fees. Asking these questions can help you find a lawyer who is experienced, realistic, and a good fit for your needs.
• What should I ask before hiring a medical malpractice lawyer?
Ask about their experience and success rate with medical malpractice cases in Minnesota, since these cases can be hard to prove. Some good example questions include:
- “Have you handled cases similar to mine, and what were the results?”
- “How will you investigate my claim, and will you get opinions from medical experts?”
- “How often will I hear updates about my case?”
- “Do you work on a contingency fee basis, and what costs might I be responsible for?”
These questions help you understand the lawyer’s approach, experience, and how they will communicate with you.
• When should I contact a lawyer about a possible medical error?

You should contact a lawyer as soon as you suspect a medical error caused you harm. In Minnesota, most medical malpractice claims must be filed within four years of the injury. There are a few limited exceptions that can extend this deadline.

For example, minors may have extra time to file, cases involving fraud or concealment can pause the clock, and if a surgical tool or object is left inside the body, you may have one year from the date it’s discovered. Even if you’re not sure it was malpractice, talking to a lawyer early helps preserve important evidence and protect your rights.
• How can I verify the credentials of a medical malpractice lawyer in Minneapolis?

Start by looking up the lawyer with the Minnesota State Bar Association to make sure they’re licensed and have no disciplinary history. Check their website for certifications or memberships in professional groups. A good lawyer should not be hesitant to talk about their experience, successes, and credentials when you ask.

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