You can seek compensation for medical malpractice if a hospital, doctor or health care professional causes you an injury due to a negligent act or omission. This could be due to a misdiagnosis, aftercare, treatment, or improper health management.
For a medical malpractice claim to stand better chances of success, you must prove you were affected by the negligent actions of a medical service provider or professional. Such claims should demonstrate the existence of a violation of the standard of care, or that an injury was a result of the negligence, and that the said injury resulted in significant damages.
It is therefore important to understand what constitutes a medical malpractice to know when you should seek the services of a medical malpractice lawyer.
1. Conflicting Evaluation from Another Doctor
When it comes to medical diagnosis, it is always a wise idea to seek a second or third opinion to establish if the first diagnosis or treatment is credible. If a second evaluation is different from that of your first doctor, this is a big sign that you could have been exposed to a medical malpractice.
A professional doctor would not mind you doing due diligence by seeking a second opinion. They might even encourage you to seek a second opinion so you can have a peace of mind concerning your diagnosis. In most cases, a second opinion should indicate only slight, if any, differences between the first and the second diagnoses.
However, if the diagnoses are starkly different, consider seeking a third opinion to establish whether it confirms either of the previous diagnoses.
2. Your Doctor Does Not Follow up after a Major Procedure
Any professional medical provider should make an attempt at follow up after subjecting you to a major procedure such as a surgery. He or she should continue to monitor your condition during the course of your recovery.
If a doctor does not do follow up or ask you to come for at least one follow-up appointment to be certain you are not experiencing a post-surgery complication, this should raise your eyebrow. It could be an indication that your medical provider is either negligent or reckless. Either way, you should be concerned.
3. Misdiagnosis or Failure to Diagnose
A wrong diagnosis or failure to diagnose a condition is a clear warning that you may have been attended to by a negligent or an incompetent medical provider. This is an ideal time to contact a personal injury lawyer.
4. Ignoring or Mis-Reading Lab Results
Laboratory results are critical when diagnosing and treating a condition. Ignoring or misreading them could lead to serious health complications. Should this happen to you, contact a medical malpractice lawyer as soon as possible.
5. Unnecessary Surgery
Sometimes a mix-up happens and a wrong patient is put under the knife. In most cases, this happens when the wrong patient is erroneously brought into the theatre. This is a serious case of medical negligence and, if it happens to you or a loved one, you should contact a medical malpractice lawyer immediately.
6. Surgical Errors or Wrong Surgery Site
This is another common cause of medical negligence. If a surgeon makes errors or performs surgery at the wrong location, you can sue them for medical malpractice.
7. Wrong Prescription or Dosage
It is time to contact a medical malpractice lawyer if you are put under a wrong dosage or prescription. This is a serious oversight as it can end up causing you a lot of harm.
There are many signs that you need to procure the services of a medical malpractice lawyer. These include premature discharge, poor aftercare or follow up, catching an infection at the hospital while undergoing treatment, or injuries incurred while undergoing surgery.
