At one point in time, you might’ve trusted your doctor to provide you with the safe and effective medical care that you need. If you’re reading this post, though, then you probably suspect that your medical provider made a mistake that’s left you seriously harmed. Medical malpractice is more common than many people realize, with some studies showing that hundreds of thousands of people die each year due to medical negligence.
But not all medical harm is caused by malpractice. Sometimes injury is just part of the risk of undergoing a challenging surgical procedure or other course of treatment. So, what should you do if you suspect that you were harmed by medical malpractice but aren’t entirely sure? Let’s look at some steps that can get you moving in the right direction in evaluating your situation.
Steps to take if you suspect medical malpractice
If you’ve been hurt by a surgical error, a failure to diagnose, a wrong diagnosis, a medication error, or some other form of medical neglect, then you need to take action now to start assessing whether legal action is justified. Here are some steps you can take to help you do that:
- Secure a new medical provider: By seeking treatment for your malpractice injuries from a new provider, you can not only create a record of the treatment you’ve received, but you also create a stronger record of the damages you’ve suffered. You can also obtain an opinion as to how your injuries or condition developed. This expert opinion can carry a lot of weight in your medical malpractice case.
- Gather your medical records: These records are going to paint a clear picture of how you were treated by your medical professional. For example, they can concretely indicate that you were misdiagnosed or that the treatment you received was inadequate for your condition. These records are also necessary if you want another medical provider or expert to review your case so that they can speak as to causation.
- Keep a written journal: While some of your compensatory recovery in a medical malpractice case is tied to your direct financial losses caused by missed work and ongoing medical treatment, a significant portion of your damages are non-economic in nature. Pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and disfigurement can all negatively affect your daily living. It can be hard to present these losses to a jury, though. That’s why you should keep a written journal detailing how your malpractice-related injuries negatively impact your life. This can help you remember key details and assist you in painting a picture of the true harm caused to you.
- Avoid talking about your case: You might be tempted to reach out to the doctor who harmed you for an explanation, or you could feel a pull towards social media to vent your frustrations. Although these urges are understandable, they’re also dangerous for your medical malpractice claim. They can impact the timeframe during which you can file your claim, it could give the hospital time to cover up their mistake, and if you’re not careful, you could find yourself in legal trouble for discrediting a medial professional in public. So, try to only talk about your medical malpractice case with your attorney.
Are you ready to build your medical malpractice claim?
If so, then consider taking the steps mentioned above and discussing the matter with your attorney. By doing so, you’ll hopefully develop a strong legal claim that puts you on the path to accountability and financial recovery. Hopefully then you can secure the stability and resources you need to focus on an effective recovery and get back to your normal life.