
Many people are killed, and countless others suffer non-fatal injuries due to medical malpractice each year. Medical malpractices occur when a medical professional’s treatment provided to you is below the accepted standard of practice in the medical community and causes harm to you. The treatment can either be action taken by the doctor or something the doctor failed to do, and that action or omission must have caused injury or death. Since medical malpractice occurs frequently, you must understand what to do if ever you are a victim.
The following tips will guide you on the steps you need to take after being a victim of medical malpractice.
1.Find Another Doctor
As a victim of medical malpractice, your health should be your priority. If a doctor has made a mistake in your diagnosis or treatment, it is vital to find another doctor as soon as possible to correct the medical error. The new doctor will most probably need to review your previous records and perform tests before diagnosing you afresh and beginning treatment to undo the damage caused by the previous doctor.
If the former doctor made a treatment error, the latter would focus on treating the complications caused by this error. However, if there was a diagnosis error, the second doctor will focus on giving you the appropriate treatment for your ailment.
2.Hire An Attorney Specializing In Medical Malpractice
Because medical malpractice cases are incredibly complex, it is highly recommended that you hire an experienced attorney. Attempting to represent yourself is not always a great idea. The attorneys at www.blg-dc.com have a long successful record of handling medical malpractice cases in the past. Do not forget to schedule a consultation with the lawyer before signing any paperwork.
Scheduling a consultation provides you with an opportunity to ask the lawyer some questions about their practice and finding out if they are a good fit for your case. When explaining your situation to the attorney, be as detailed as possible and do not leave any information out regardless of how insignificant it may seem to you. Medical malpractice is a highly specialized area of law, and each state has different laws that may affect your ability to file your suit.
An attorney tells you if you have a case and whether your case is worth bringing a lawsuit. Most medical malpractice attorneys provide you with a free consultation to learn about your claim and give some initial advice. Also, most attorneys work on a contingency basis, meaning that the attorney will not recover any money from you unless they win the case. Ensure that you furnish the lawyer with all the documentation related to your issue, especially the medical reports and journal. The attorney will start investigating the matter and gather evidence of the medical error. The attorney handles the legal aspects of your case, allowing you to focus on recovery.
3.Request for medical records
The next step should be requesting copies of your medical records. It is vital to obtain the documents as soon as possible since the records will play an essential role in your medical malpractice suit. The records contain information regarding the symptoms you experienced, a detailed account of your medical history, tests performed, and medications prescribed for you.
You can use the report to hold the doctor in question liable for medical malpractice. For example, you get wheeled into an emergency room with chest pains, and your medical records indicate a history of heart conditions in your family. However, the medical worker does not perform any tests to determine whether you have a heart attack. In this case, you can use the records to show the doctor was negligent because of the failure to review your medical history and perform the needed tests.
Also, ensure that you request these records before filing a medical malpractice claim so that your healthcare provider does not attempt to alter the information. Although it is illegal to falsify medical records, some doctors avoid being held culpable for malpractice.
4.Avoid contact with other parties
There is no need to speak with any other parties involved since your attorney acts as your main point of contact in the case. Avoid contacting the healthcare workers to threaten or warn them about your claim. Also, refrain from talking about your topic on social media since the defendant could find out about your posts even if your account is private. If the defendant’s insurance company attempts to contact you, ask them to get in touch with your attorney. It is best to let an attorney speak to them since they will try to use your words against you.
Cases of medical malpractices are becoming more rampant across the country. Negligent healthcare providers must be held accountable for their mistakes. With the right help, victims of medical malpractice can get compensation for their medical expenses, pain, and suffering.