Malpractice Lawyers Explain How to Tell if Malpractice has Occurred

Doctors and other healthcare providers are perhaps the most trusted people in the world, after your family members. What if, one day, you find yourself caught in a dreaded situation because they erred? That is probably one of life’s worst scenarios.

A healthcare provider can make mistakes, and it can cost you your life. Take a look at the statistics. As per a report in JAMA or the Journal of the American Medical Association, deaths caused due to medical negligence, that is negligence on the hands of healthcare providers, ranks third in causes of deaths in America.

Medical Malpractice Center states that more than 18,000 medical negligence claims are filed every year in the US. One-third of deaths in the US are caused due to medical errors, as per The Hospital Safety Score.

There are many legal solutions to help you with medical malpractice. All you need to do is get help from medical accident lawyers. That is why you need to know at least the basics about the errors or mistakes that your healthcare provider can make to help you take timely action.

How do you know it is medical malpractice?

Medical malpractice is referred to negligence by a healthcare provider that has caused serious injuries or death to a patient. The first sign of medical malpractice is worsening of a medical condition. At the same time, not all such cases may be of negligence.

Those who can be held for medical negligence are doctors, hospitals, nurses, assistants, pharmacists, dentists, etc. So, all those who are responsible for giving you medical care and treatment come under the law in case there has been negligence on their part.

Here are some ways to know if there has been medical malpractice:

The wrong diagnosis: The first step of successful treatment of a disease or condition is an accurate diagnosis. Any delay or error can lead to extreme aggravation of the situation leading to irreversible and serious injuries and even death. So, if you have been wrongly diagnosed or if there has been a delay in the same, you can seek malpractice claim.

Prescription errors: The doctor has to advise medicines taking into account all of the data, which includes your medical symptoms, your allergies, other medications you are taking, etc. The dosage has to be right as well.

If there is any negligence, then it is a case of medical malpractice. So, if you feel the medicine you are being given is not offering any relief or if you suffer from any side effects, then you should know that your provider has not been doing their duty.

Surgery errors: You must have heard cases in which the surgeon forgetfully left an object inside a patient. Though a rare case, it is an example of medical negligence. Operating on the wrong body part or any other error during surgery will be treated as a medical malpractice case.

Wrong ways of administering anesthesia can lead to stroke and even death, making it one of the main causes of medical malpractice.

Be alert if: you find that your condition has not improved or if it has worsened. This means the treatment that is being given to you is either inadequate or is wrong. Be sure to ask your doctor questions to find out the reason.

If the doctor is not giving you a patient hearing or not answering your queries, you can seek action against them because it is a part of their duty to keep you informed at all stages.

What you need to know if there is medical malpractice

There can be huge repercussions in case of a medical injury. What you should do is that always be ready to ask questions and be cautious. If you have even a slight suspicion that there is negligence, then inform the hospital immediately. Next, contact a medical malpractice attorney as soon as possible because not all doctors and hospitals agree to their mistake.

You are eligible for a claim and your lawyer can help you in the process. Malpractice lawsuits can be complex and confusing for any person who does not know the in's and outs of the how the healthcare industry works.

If you've been a victim of a medical malpractice case, you will require a team of seasoned lawyer by your side to bring the perpetrator to justice. The evidence and the reasoning to back your case should be airtight for you to have a chance to receive the right amount of compensation. Give us a call at 844-777-2529  to find out how we can help you out during these troubled times.