5 Signs Your Doctor Might Be Liable for Medical Malpractice
Whenever you visit the hospital for a health check, medical advice, treatment, or surgery, one thing is for a fact. You entrust your health, wellness, and sometimes your life, to the hands and skills of the medical practitioners in charge.
But did you know that healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, and pharmacists, can be held accountable for any negligent mistakes they make on the job?
Yes, and this is especially if such mistakes end up causing a patient’s injury or suffering.
This occurs through the form of tort law called medical malpractice, under which the patient may be compensated for the harm suffered if such a medical practitioner is found guilty of medical negligence.
The Meaning of Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice is the term used to define cases where a medical professional or provider fails to adhere to the standard procedures during diagnosis, treatment, prescribing medicine, or offering care. This is considered negligence, which often causes harm, injury, or even death to the patient.
Victims of such negligence are protected by the law and can seek compensation for the harms suffered through the help of an experienced medical malpractice lawyer. These cases can be pretty hard to navigate if you choose to go it alone.
But how can you tell if a medical professional’s error/omission or negligence caused you harm? Well, this is best established in court in most instances, but there are a few probable signs to watch out for.
Signs You May Have a Medical Malpractice Case
1. Issues with Diagnosis
2017 statistics estimated that close to 225,000 deaths occur annually due to various forms of malpractice by a medical provider or professional. The number of minor and severe medical injuries suffered by patients is obviously higher, with diagnosis-related mistakes being a leading cause.
Some of the most common issues to look out for in this case include:
- Delayed Diagnosis – Where the doctor took too long before performing a diagnosis.
- Misdiagnosis – This is also called Wrong Diagnosis, where the medical practitioner concludes the wrong illness out of your symptoms, thereby administering the wrong drugs or treatment.
- Diagnosis failure – The doctor didn’t diagnose you at all but recommended certain drugs or treatment.
2. Post-Surgery/Treatment Complications
It is not unusual for illness or symptoms to get worse after a surgical procedure or treatment. However, certain complications may occur from an error made by your doctor or healthcare professional at some point.
One of the first steps to take after your illness worsens post-treatment is to get a second opinion from another qualified doctor or healthcare provider. Don’t forget to journal your medical records and keep the issue confidential as you plan to seek legal help.
3. Constant Dismissal
Has your doctor been dismissing your symptoms or concerns constantly? If so, they could be held liable for medical malpractice. Many dismissed symptoms or concerns lead to complications that could even end in wrongful death. If you spot this sign, you could be a victim of medical malpractice.
4. Apparent Medication Errors
Medication errors are among the most common causes of harm and injuries related to medical negligence. They could occur at the point of prescription or dispensation.
Some of the most common errors in medication include:
- Wrong drugs
- Wrong dosage or instructions
- Improper labeling
- Prescription of allergic medications
- Not considering drug interactions or prevailing health conditions
5. Lack of Informed Consent
Some illnesses or health conditions require treatments or medical procedures that may have certain potential complications. Additionally, a patient may have several treatment options to choose from, based on what feels most beneficial to them.
But sometimes doctors fail to reveal the potential side effects or risks associated with those treatments.
If you develop health complications after surgery or treatment procedure and the doctor didn’t inform you or ask for your consent before administering the treatment/procedure, they may have a medical malpractice case to answer.
Injuries or harms caused by a negligent medical practitioner can take a huge toll on a patient’s life and those of their loved ones. Many of them are quite costly to treat, not to mention the possibility of causing irreversible harm to one’s health.
If you or a loved one spots these signs when or after visiting the doctor’s office, the medical professional could be held liable for the harm suffered.
