Being in the hospital for medical treatment can be daunting on the part of the patient. While many expect their doctors to be capable and reliable professionals, some end up being victims of medical malpractice. As a patient, you have the right to know exactly what’s going on with your treatment. But if you suspect that your doctor has committed medical malpractice, there are things to consider for you to take action immediately.
Signs of Medical Malpractice
Patients like you deserve a fair and quality medical treatment. In fact, it’s only natural for you to put your trust in doctors. However, you should also remember that their failure to provide proper medication is always a possibility. If you want to figure out if your doctor is guilty of medical malpractice, below are common signs to watch out for.
1. The treatment prescribed doesn’t improve your health condition. Take note that your doctor has the responsibility to apply effective treatment procedures to improve your recovery. But if you’re not recovering despite the treatment and prescriptions are given, this can be a sign that your condition was misdiagnosed.
● You should keep in mind that delay in your medical treatment may have long-term adverse effects on your health. That’s why it’s important to know that your doctor does their best to provide a reasonable standard of care for your condition. For example, when you’re bitten by a stray dog, a doctor should attend to your medical needs right away because if not, you might develop rabies or tetanus.
● However, this isn’t always the case. If your doctor fails to make a proper diagnosis as early as possible, their actions can fall within the legal definition of medical malpractice.
2. Your doctor makes a diagnosis based on your symptoms without considering diagnostic testing. In most cases, a medical diagnosis should be made based upon the description of your symptoms and the results of your lab tests. In fact, your doctor should even consider your medical history in doing so.
● You should bear in mind that a rush in coming up with a diagnosis based on narrow grounds can be an indicator of medical malpractice.
3. Your course of treatment doesn’t match the diagnosis. You should remember that doctors are responsible for providing care when treating patients. As medical practitioners, they are duty-bound to ensure your well-being.
● Another way of determining whether your doctor has committed medical malpractice is the course of your treatment.
● When you notice that your treatment doesn’t support your diagnosis, the failure on the part of your doctor can be considered as negligence which is an essential element in proving a medical malpractice issue.
4. Your doctor avoids talking to you about your condition. In reality, you expect your doctor to provide accurate information about your situation. Giving the right information is part of their duty as medical professionals.
● However, poor communication with your doctor can be a sign of medical malpractice. This usually happens when they avoid answering questions about your health condition and treatment because they’re aware of the error they’ve committed to your treatment.
In the event your doctor has failed to act with due diligence and care in the course of your medication, it’s best to act right away. Get appropriate legal advice from an attorney as to what you should do to protect yourself from the harm brought about by your doctor’s negligence.
Things to consider if you’ve been a victim of Medical Malpractice
If you’ve suffered harm as a result of medical malpractice, you have the right to initiate a medical malpractice claim against the doctor at fault. Below are few things you can consider if you’ve been a victim of medical malpractice.
1. Consult a lawyer as soon as possible. Considering the amount of time you have in bringing a medical malpractice lawsuit, you should go and speak with a licensed attorney as quickly as possible.
● In getting a lawyer, you should make sure that they have valuable experience in handling medical malpractice cases similar to yours.
● By doing this, you’ll be able to work with an attorney who can give you advice and help you understand the available legal remedies you can take to proceed with your case. This is especially if the medical malpractice claim was a result of another situation, such as a car accident. You may click here to know more.
2. Prepare documents. Since you’ve been treated wrongly by your doctor, it’s time to document how malpractice has been committed. That way, you’ll be able to explain the accuracy of your claim while talking to an attorney.
● You should keep in mind that for your case to prevail, you’ll be required by your lawyer to prepare documents about your medical records, list of prescribed medications you’ve been taking and information about your health care providers, and doctors and nurses who have attended you.
● If you want to get the most out of your malpractice case, don’t take documentation for granted. Gather everything so that your lawyer can evaluate your claim correctly.
3. Be careful in accepting insurance settlement claims. Protecting your rights may also mean getting the right compensation for losses that you rightfully deserve.
● While several insurance companies offer settlement claims for medical malpractice victims, it’s a smart move if you shouldn’t accept any offer before you are able to know the extent of your injuries.
● You should keep in mind that acceptance of insurance settlement claims may imply a waiver of your right to bring an action in court to recover additional damages.
Remember that establishing a medical malpractice lawsuit depends on how you’ll prove your doctor’s negligence to provide the proper standard of care and how this negligence has caused your injuries like a car accident. If you’re concerned about preserving your rights when it comes to malpractice cases, you should contact an experienced attorney to help you deal with the situation.
Lea Briggs Lea Briggs is a young law writer who enjoys a challenge when writing. Lea aims to make sure her articles allow readers to have a basic grasp of the concepts she is writing, especially giving emphasis on how these subjects can help them in their daily lives. She likes to spend time with her family at home during her days off.
