Before filing my medical malpractice or negligence case/lawsuit, do I have to give notice to the doctor, hospital, medical provider or health care provider who committed malpractice or negligence/whose malpractice or negligence injured/hurt me? What is the medical malpractice or negligence presuit screening period? What is a notice of intent?

Yes, before filing your medical malpractice or negligence lawsuit, you must give notice to each possible defendant in your case (called a notice of intent). This notice must:

1. tell the defendant(s) all of the doctors, hospitals, health care providers or medical providers that you treated with in the two years prior to the malpractice or negligence
2. provide copies of all of the medical records relied upon by the expert you used in your pre-suit investigation described above.

Along with this notice of intent, you must include an “authorization for release of protected health information” so that the defendant(s) can get your medical records in order to evaluate your case.