Find a medical malpractice lawyer in Scottsdale: deadlines, experts and hospital records

Arizona generally gives you 2 years to sue for medical malpractice, and the clock can start when you should have known. You will need expert support. HonorHealth and Mayo Clinic are the big names here. A claim against a public hospital such as Valleywise is due in 180 days.

Last checked November 9, 2026 · Official sources (36)

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Road map of Scottsdale showing Shea Boulevard and Osborn Road, where major hospitals are located
Public hospital malpractice claims here are due in 180 days. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Which Scottsdale hospital treated you, and why does it matter?

PlaceDetailsWhat to do
HonorHealth Scottsdale OsbornLevel I trauma center, 7400 E. OsbornUse HonorHealth's records form
HonorHealth Scottsdale Shea434 bedsSame system, same form
HonorHealth Thompson Peak120 bedsSame system, same form
Mayo Clinic Building, Scottsdale13400 E. Shea Blvd., outpatient servicesAsk Mayo for outpatient and hospital records separately
Mayo Clinic HospitalIn Phoenix, at 5777 E. Mayo Blvd.14 miles from the Scottsdale campus
Valleywise HealthPublic district, notice of claim goes to the Clerk of the Board, 2601 E. Roosevelt St.180-day deadline

Many Scottsdale patients are treated at more than one campus. A surgery at one place and a bad reaction at another can mean two sets of records, and sometimes two different defendants.

Community health centers are different again. Some are treated as federal employees, and HRSA lists them. Those cases need a written claim to the federal agency within two years, and it has to come before any lawsuit.

What do you have to prove in an Arizona malpractice case?

You need to show the provider fell below what a reasonable, prudent provider would do, and that the failure caused your injury. A poor outcome, standing alone, is not malpractice.

  • When you file, you certify in writing whether expert testimony is needed.
  • You then serve a preliminary expert opinion affidavit with your first disclosures.
  • If it falls short, the court allows reasonable time to fix it.
  • For care under the federal emergency treatment law, Arizona requires clear and convincing evidence.

Experts cost real money, and that shapes which cases a lawyer can take. Ask about it at the first meeting. Your share of any fault lowers the award.

How do I get my medical records in Scottsdale?

  1. Write a dated request naming the hospital, the dates of care and what you want, including imaging.
  2. Send it to the medical records office. HonorHealth has a request form, and copy fees may apply.
  3. Expect action within 30 days. Arizona providers must keep adult records at least six years.
  4. Write your own timeline of who said what and when, while you remember.
  5. Do not change, add to or sign anything the provider sends without reading it.

Where do you complain about a doctor or hospital in Scottsdale?

These bring accountability, not money, and they do not stop your deadline. The Arizona Medical Board publishes instructions for filing a complaint. It is at 1740 W Adams St, Suite 4000, Phoenix, toll free (877) 255-2212. Licensing complaints about doctors go there.

For the facility itself, anyone with concerns may file in writing with the Arizona Department of Health Services. The state urges doing so promptly. You can also write to HonorHealth Patient Relations at [email protected].

How long do I have for a malpractice case in Scottsdale?

Generally 2 years, but the start date is often the fight, because it can turn on when you should have known about the negligence. A public hospital requires a notice of claim within 180 days, and a lawsuit within one year. A child's deadline can differ. If you are unsure, treat the earliest date as the real one.

Disputes in Maricopa Superior Court under $50,000 go to mandatory arbitration. Medicare, if it paid for your care, must be repaid from a settlement.

What should you ask a medical malpractice lawyer in Scottsdale?

  • Have you tried cases against this hospital system?
  • Which kind of expert would my case need?
  • Who pays expert costs if we lose?
  • When do you believe my clock started?

Questions

How long do I have to file a medical malpractice claim in Arizona?

Generally 2 years, and the clock can depend on when you should have known.

Is Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale or Phoenix?

Both. The Mayo Clinic Building is on E. Shea Blvd. in Scottsdale, and Mayo Clinic Hospital is in Phoenix.

Is there a cap on malpractice damages in Arizona?

No. No limit applies to injury damages, because the state constitution bars one.

Do I need an expert?

Usually. Arizona requires a written statement on the question and a preliminary expert affidavit in most cases.

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Sources (36)

  1. A.R.S. 12-542, checked 2026-11-09. “For injuries done to the person of another including causes of action for medical malpractice as defined in section 12-561.”
  2. Arizona Supreme Court, Walk v. Ring (2002), checked 2026-11-09. “whether the plaintiff by the exercise of reasonable diligence should have known of defendants”
  3. A.R.S. 12-2603, checked 2026-11-09. “shall serve a preliminary expert opinion affidavit with the initial disclosures”
  4. Arizona Revised Statutes 12-821.01, checked 2026-11-08. “within one hundred eighty days after the cause of action accrues”
  5. 45 CFR 164.524, checked 2026-11-09. “no later than 30 days after receipt of the request”
  6. A.R.S. 12-821.01, checked 2026-11-09. “within one hundred eighty days after the cause of action accrues”
  7. Ariz. Const. art. 18, § 6, checked 2026-11-09. “the amount recovered shall not be subject to any statutory limitation”
  8. Arizona Medical Board, checked 2026-11-09. “Here you will find instructions for how to file a complaint”
  9. Arizona Department of Health Services, Designated Trauma Centers, checked 2026-11-08. “7400 E. Osborn, Scottsdale, AZ 85251 10/27/24 10/27/27”
  10. HonorHealth, Request Medical Records, checked 2026-11-08. “Copy fees may apply.”
  11. HonorHealth, checked 2026-11-09. “Scottsdale Shea Medical Center has 434 beds”
  12. HonorHealth, checked 2026-11-09. “Scottsdale Thompson Peak Medical Center is a 120-bed facility”
  13. Mayo Clinic, checked 2026-11-09. “Mayo Clinic Building 13400 E. Shea Blvd. Scottsdale, AZ 85259”
  14. Mayo Clinic, checked 2026-11-09. “The Mayo Clinic Building houses outpatient services on the Scottsdale campus.”
  15. Mayo Clinic, checked 2026-11-09. “Mayo Clinic Hospital 5777 E. Mayo Blvd. Phoenix, AZ 85054”
  16. Mayo Clinic, checked 2026-11-09. “spread across two main campuses in Scottsdale and Phoenix, located 14 miles apart”
  17. Valleywise Health, checked 2026-11-09. “Clerk of the Board of Directors Maricopa County Special Health Care District 2601 E. Roosevelt St. Phoenix, Arizona 85008”
  18. HRSA FTCA Search Tool, checked 2026-11-09. “searches a listing of recipients of Health Center Program grant funding that have been deemed as PHS employees”
  19. 28 U.S.C. 2401(b), checked 2026-11-09. “presented in writing to the appropriate Federal agency within two years after such claim accrues”
  20. HRSA, FTCA FAQ, checked 2026-11-09. “a claimant may not file suit before presenting an administrative claim”
  21. A.R.S. 12-563, checked 2026-11-09. “failed to exercise that degree of care, skill and learning expected of a reasonable, prudent health care provider”
  22. A.R.S. 12-2603, checked 2026-11-09. “shall certify in a written statement that is filed and served with the claim”
  23. A.R.S. 12-2603, checked 2026-11-09. “the court shall allow any party a reasonable time to cure any affidavit”
  24. A.R.S. 12-572, checked 2026-11-09. “are established by clear and convincing evidence”
  25. A.R.S. § 12-2505, checked 2026-11-08. “the claimant's action is not barred, but the full damages shall be reduced in proportion to the relative degree of the claimant's fault”
  26. A.R.S. 12-2297, checked 2026-11-09. “for at least six years after the last date the adult patient received medical or health care services from that provider”
  27. Arizona Medical Board, checked 2026-11-09. “1740 W Adams St, Suite 4000 Phoenix, AZ 85007”
  28. Arizona Medical Board, checked 2026-11-09. “(877) 255-2212”
  29. Medicare.gov, checked 2026-11-09. “Contact your State medical board.”
  30. Arizona Department of Health Services, checked 2026-11-09. “Anyone with knowledge or concerns about an assisted living, behavioral health, long term care or medical facility may file a complaint in writing.”
  31. Arizona Department of Health Services, checked 2026-11-09. “It is imperative that complaints be reported timely”
  32. HonorHealth, checked 2026-11-09. “please email us at [email protected]”
  33. A.R.S. 12-821, checked 2026-11-09. “shall be brought within one year after the cause of action accrues”
  34. A.R.S. § 12-502, checked 2026-11-08. “the period of such disability shall not be deemed a portion of the period limited for commencement of the action”
  35. Maricopa County Superior Court, Arbitration, checked 2026-11-08. “Compulsory Arbitration is a mandatory program for disputes valued under $50,000.”
  36. CMS, checked 2026-11-09. “it must be repaid to Medicare when a settlement, judgment, award, or other payment is made”

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