We like to think we are in good hands when we get medical treatment and the doctor will fix us up right away. And most times, this is exactly how it goes. The problem is that doctors and medical professionals are human.
And humans are prone to making mistakes occasionally. Sometimes that mistake could impact your health.
Another problem is that sometimes the mistake is not apparent and the doctor may not realize it. How can you know if they don’t tell you?
You need to look for some signs if you suspect you have a medical malpractice case.
In this article, we will go over several of the things you should be looking for to determine if you suspect that you have been a victim of medical malpractice.
If after reading then you need to find a lawyer like Nashville Criminal Defense Lawyer who also does civil litigation.
Treatments aren’t working
There could be several reasons for your treatment not working that have nothing to do with any malpractice. Yet, it is a sign to be aware of.
If your illness or injury is not improving then you need to be in communication with your doctor.
It is a concern when your doctor is brushing off your concerns. Or, communication is difficult and your doctor is not responding properly to your outreach.
A misdiagnosis might be to blame but to remedy that requires your doctor to have a plan of action. Any inaction that leads to your problem worsening is cause for concern.
Doctors are very busy, but you should never feel brushed off when your problems are getting worse.
A second opinion contradicts your primary doctor
Any serious diagnosis should be followed up with a second opinion just to be safe. If you suspect that your problem is getting worse and treatments don’t seem to be working then that is the time to seek out a second opinion.
When the second doctor has a different finding than the first then you certainly have a good case for medical malpractice.
You may even need to get a third opinion to see if the third agrees with the second doctor.
No informed consent
A doctor can’t perform any treatment or procedure without informing you and then getting your consent.
In other words, all risks and benefits of these procedures need to be explained so the patient can make an informed decision.
If these things are not explained, and a doctor goes ahead with an operation, for example, then that is cause for concern. Especially when the procedure that was not agreed to ends up causing complications.
The error made and not communicated
Doctors make mistakes and when they do, they need to let the patient know. If a mistake is made and ignored and that causes complications, then the standard of care was not followed. This is a very clear case of medical malpractice and is very serious.
Not all of these scenarios will result in compensation, but this one is a prime candidate.
About The Author:
Peter MacCallister is a small business owner and blogger, he resides in Scotland and likes to write about up and coming entrepreneurial topics. You’ll likely find Peter in the comments section of any major business publication sparking debate and trying to keep things interesting!