Mistakes happen.
The problem is that when a member of the medical profession makes a mistake, there is a good chance that a person’s health and/or overall quality of life could be impacted. In some cases, a mistake could result in someone losing their life.
According to the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys (ABPLA,) Medical malpractice, “occurs when a hospital, doctor or other health care professional, through a negligent act or omission, causes an injury to a patient. The negligence might be the result of errors in diagnosis, treatment, aftercare or health management.”
Many of us assume that medical malpractice involves a major medical misdiagnosis or a mistake that happens during surgery. The truth is that many things can be considered medical malpractice, including:
- A failure to provide the legally required level of care a patient requires
- Failing to request proper testing that would lead to an accurate diagnosis
- Ignoring or failing to properly identify important symptoms
- Misdiagnosis
- Performing surgery that isn’t necessary
- Failing to acknowledge a patient’s medical history
- Discharging a patient too soon
- Failing to properly handle and read lab results
- Failure to deliver lab results in a reasonable amount of time
- Surgical mistakes
- Failing to provide sufficient follow-up care
- Failure to educate the patient about proper follow-up care
One of the challenges the general population encounters daily is that it’s difficult to know if you’re an actual victim of medical malpractice or if your health simply took an unexpected turn that medical professionals handled to the best of their ability.
Most people find that learning they are the victim of medical malpractice requires two things. The first is careful and accurate records of everything that happens whenever they seek medical care. Keep a log of every single member of personnel you encounter and everything that is said to you. You should also keep a list of tests that are run, medications that are administered and what your expected response to medications/treatments/surgeries is.
If you suspect that you’ve been a victim of medical malpractice, your next step is getting a second opinion. Make sure you go to a doctor/medical facility that isn’t affiliated with your original provider. If the professionals who provide a second opinion indicate that something seems off with your recovery/treatment/diagnosis, it’s time to contact an experienced medical malpractice attorney who will look at your records and listen to your story before providing you with a plan of action.
A medical malpractice case can take a long time to prove. It will take an even longer time to receive your settlement. To preserve your health, you need to leave the legal stuff in your lawyer’s hands and find a doctor you trust who will accurately and compassionately oversee your health.