Are you a victim of medical malpractice? Discover your next steps here
Medical malpractice. It’s something we hear
about and read about, but it isn’t something we believe will ever touch our
lives. And why should it? We’re healthy, we trust our doctors and our medical
teams and even if we had a medical procedure coming up, we have faith that our
doctors and surgeons will always work to the highest standards of care. Well,
you probably believe this until the day you become a victim of medical
malpractice.
From a misdiagnosis or surgical error, to a
birth injury such as infant
bleeding of the brain, medical malpractice can manifest in many
different ways. However, despite each case being so different, it’s important
to know the facts and your next steps should you fall victim to poor medical
practice. Are you a victim of medical malpractice? Read on to discover what you
should do next.
Get medical help
Seeking medical help from a competent
medical team is your first step. You should always prioritise your own health
before seeking any legal action as the quicker you’re on the road to recovery,
the quicker you can get better and have the strength and confidence you’re
going to need to fight your case. Your new medical team will potentially be
able to undo anything that the previous team has done or at least improve your
current situation, they’ll provide the correct treatments or re-diagnosis and
put a new treatment plan in place. Make
this your first priority.
Build and gather evidence
The more evidence you have, the stronger
your case will be. It’s that simple. Your lawyer can of course do this for you,
although due to the statute of limitations – this will vary by state – it’s
always best to get the ball rolling as soon as possible. Start by requesting copies
of your medical records. These records will detail where you were seen and who
by. It will also detail any treatments and courses of action that your previous
medical team took. When you have these, go through them and try to recount what
happened at each stage. What your symptoms were, how you felt, did you feel
listened to? Or were you concerned something was wrong? Nothing is too
immaterial or insignificant at this stage.
Record everything
As a victim of medical malpractice, you’ll
incur loss of earnings as well as loss of enjoyment and sky high medical bills.
You need your compensation to reflect this. So, it’s important to keep accurate
records of how the negligence of your medical team has impacted your life. Keep
a diary and describe the pain you’re feeling, the inconvenience it
has on your life as well as the impact on your mental health.
Get yourself a lawyer
Once you’ve completed the steps above, it’s
time to sit down with a legal representative and let them handle your case.
Sadly, medical malpractice cases are seldom straightforward, so having an
experienced and professional personal injury lawyer on your side is an absolute
must. Do plenty of research before you choose your lawyer.