A Comprehensive Guide To Medical Malpractice and How to Approach It
When you go to the doctor, you trust them to do what is best for you.
Most of the time, doctors do what is right to help you recover from illness or injury. However, there are times when a doctor does something that either makes your condition worse or gives you a whole new problem.
If you think you have been the victim of a medical error, the first thing you should do is contact an attorney. Medical malpractice lawyers are experienced in all aspects of medical law. If you have questions about the validity of your case, contact a knowledgeable team of attorneys and request a consultation.
What Should I Do If I Suspect Medical Malpractice?
Once there is a suspicion that a medical error has occurred, doctors and staff will begin doing everything they can to protect themselves. You must have as much proof as possible that malpractice happened before moving forward. Here are some things you can do to strengthen your case.
- Get Another Opinion
See another doctor if you think your doctor did not diagnose you correctly or has done something that prevents you from getting treated. Your health and safety are the most important things. Seeing another doctor will allow someone else to review your case and be sure you are getting treated properly.
- Write Everything Down
Start keeping a journal from the moment you suspect something is wrong. Keep detailed notes of your symptoms and what the doctor told you. If you believe you are not getting the treatment you need due to a missed diagnosis, write down how your health and daily life are impacted. These notes could be used as evidence if your case goes to trial.
- Request Medical Records
It is your right to review the records kept on you by doctors, so you should request a copy of them as soon as possible. Every hospital and clinic will have a detailed record of every diagnosis and treatment you’ve ever had. The documents could show that your history was not thoroughly reviewed during an evaluation which could mean the diagnosis was either wrong or partial.
- Do Not Talk
Once you have called an attorney, they should be the only contact you have with the other parties involved. If anyone tries to talk to you about your case, refer them to your lawyer. Insurance companies will try to get you to say something that can discredit you.
Who Is At Fault?
Medical malpractice is usually due to negligence on the part of the medical staff. Either a doctor missed the diagnosis, did not review all the information, or was not presented with proper documentation. Any of those can lead to them not seeing what is wrong or believing it is something different. This can result in further illness or even death of a patient who is not adequately treated.
What Do I Do Next?
Medical malpractice cases are serious and require medical professionals to answer when they are negligent. You may be entitled to damages due to pain, mental anguish, or the loss of your ability to earn a living. The first thing you should do is contact an attorney.
Because of the complexity of medical malpractice cases, you should not take it on alone. The doctors and insurance companies will have lawyers looking out for their best interests, and you should have the same. When you go to the doctor, you should expect someone to help you, not be lazy and miss what is wrong with you.
Your attorney wants to help you, so do not hesitate to ask questions. The law surrounding medical malpractice cases is difficult to understand, and lawyers study for years to make their arguments. You deserve to understand what happened to you and your rights, so do not be afraid to ask.
