Medical Mishaps: What You Can Do About It
When you are ill or injured and head to the doctor's office or hospital, you trust in the medical professionals to give you proper treatment. However, there are times whether through error or negligence in which you do not receive the proper medical treatment. It is often not until complications arise or your condition does not improve that you are even aware of such potential problems. And when you do feel that you are the victim of personal injury (physical or psychological) at the hands of your doctor or nurse, you may wonder what you can do. Learn the steps you can take if you suspect medical malpractice so you can protect yourself from poor medical treatment.
Look For Problems With Diagnostic Testing
When you go to the doctor or the hospital, the physician you see will perform and/or order a series of diagnostic tests to determine the reason for your malady. However, in the case of medical malpractice, you may experience errors in your diagnostic testing.
For example, if you come into the emergency room experiencing chest pain, standard protocol is to perform an immediate EKG (electrocardiogram) to determine if you are having a heart attack. If this test is not performed and you are found to be having a heart attack, this could be considered medical malpractice.
When needed tests are not performed at initial treatment, or only one lab panel is performed without being indicative of a diagnosis, and you are sent away or your condition worsens, you may have grounds for a lawsuit.
Ask Your Doctor Or Nurses What Happened
Talking to the medical professionals whom you suspect of malpractice may not seem like an ideal step to take. However, before you accuse anyone of malpractice, it is a good idea to get their side of what transpired.
Doctors and nurses are highly trained professionals, and what you see as a patient may be only a small part of the story. For example, you may worry that the doctor only had a little blood drawn or a throat culture taken when you come in feeling ill. What you don't see is that in the lab a single blood draw or throat culture can be used to perform a variety of diagnostic tests.
So, ask your medical team non-accusatory questions to get their perspective on the care that was provided to you. You can, of course, also request copies of all test results and your hospital records for further verification.
Contact A Personal Injury Lawyer
If after your consideration of the diagnostic tests and all of the care that was provided to you, you feel that your doctor and/or nurses were negligent or committed a major error in your medical care, your next step should be to contact a personal injury attorney. When you meet with the attorney, be sure that you present your case with as much detail as possible.
The lawyer will be able to determine whether you have a case that would stand up in court and the next steps that can be taken. If you choose to proceed with a malpractice suit, discuss fees with the lawyer at the initial consultation. If at all possible, try to hire a lawyer that works on contingency, meaning they get paid if you do.
Now that you have an idea of what to do when you suspect medical malpractice, you are better equipped to protect yourself in the future. Just be sure to gather all of the facts before you make any accusations and try to keep a level head at all times. Talk to lawyers like Oot & Associates Law Offices for more information.
