You rely on doctors and other healthcare professionals to heal your illnesses, cure diseases, and act with the utmost professionalism. So when you suspect someone in the medical field hasn’t done their job properly (and to your detriment) you may be the victim of medical malpractice.
What Is Malpractice?
Malpractice is an act of negligence on the part of a medical professional to a patient. In other words, they didn’t act with due diligence or deviated from the standard of care for a specific medical problem. This malpractice typically results in severe health issues or even death.
Examples of Malpractice
If you or a family member think you may have endured malpractice, how can you be sure? Each case differs, but it’s best to see examples from past malpractice cases. This includes:
- Medication errors (either in prescribing, filling, or administering medicine)
- Surgery issues
- Negligent follow-up care for surgery
Steps to Take
What should you do if you truly believe that you have a malpractice case on your hands? Take the following steps.
Gather Information – Before you meet with anybody, get all your ducks in a row. Write down all memories, no matter how seemingly insignificant they appear. Get written testimonials from family members or witnesses. Gather all your medical documents, including bills, correspondence, prescriptions and records.
Find a Good Lawyer – Once you have all your information gathered, you need to present it all to an attorney. However, because malpractice cases are notoriously hard to prove, you need to find the best attorney possible. Finding a good attorney is a must, whether you’ve been injured in an accident or by the physician who was supposed to help you get better (click here to learn more).
Weigh the Pros and Cons – While medical malpractice is a serious problem in the United States, a surprising number of claimants walk away with little to no payout and steep legal fees. This is why it’s important to speak with a great lawyer who can walk you through the pros and cons. They can tell you if you have a legitimate case, and determine the chances of being awarded damages.
When you suspect medical malpractice, you have the right to seek justice with a lawyer. Know the steps to take so you can find retribution.
*Our content is not intended to provide medical advice or diagnosis of individual problems or circumstances, nor should it be implied that we are a substitute for professional medical advice. Users / readers are always advised to consult their Healthcare Professional prior to starting any new remedy, therapy or treatment. Your Wellness Group accepts no liability in the event you, a user of n-gage and a reader of this article, suffers a loss as a result of reliance upon or inappropriate application of the information.