You trusted your doctor and agreed to have surgery. But instead of relief, you received more pain and discomfort. Maybe you received the wrong medication, or your doctor missed a critical diagnosis. These are three examples of medical malpractice. It’s not a term to take lightly, as malpractice happens more often than you think. One study revealed that around 400,000 patients experience preventable injuries every year.
Is this something that you or a loved one has experienced? You should know that you are not powerless. There are options and actions you can take. The first one is to report medical malpractice. Here’s how to report medical malpractice.
Not every mistake a healthcare professional makes qualifies as malpractice. Medical malpractice means your doctor violated the standard of care and caused injury. A poor bedside manner doesn’t count as malpractice. Misdiagnosis, surgical errors, or unnecessary procedures are prime examples of medical malpractice. Medical malpractice lawyers can also file a case for wrong prescriptions.
Your medical malpractice lawyer will need more than your word to start a case. You should start collecting evidence as soon as possible.
Ask for all your medical records. This includes test results, prescription logs, and discharge notes. Take photographs of your injuries or visible symptoms. Keep a detailed record of what happened. Include dates, times, and symptoms. You should also include conversations with staff and names of witnesses. The more evidence you have, the stronger your complaint. Every state has a medical board that licenses and regulates doctors.
