4 Signs You Should Hire a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

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Medicine isn’t an exact science. Mistakes happen more than most of us will ever know. While a lot of doctors who make mistakes might not have ill intentions, the damage done can be devastating – life-altering, even.

If you believe that your or your loved one has been injured as a result of inadequate medical care, you might want to file a medical malpractice claim against the entity (whether it is one physician or an entire hospital) to help cover your personal and financial losses.

Do you have a case though? Let’s go over four clear signs that you need to hire a medical malpractice lawyer to advocate for you.

What is Medical Malpractice?

Medical malpractice is the result of a medical professional causing a patient harm when they fail to provide reasonable medical care. There are rules about medical malpractice that vary by state, but in general, you need to meet some basic requirements. Those requirements include proving the existence of a doctor-patient relationship, that the doctor was negligent, that the negligence caused injury, and that the injury caused certain damages.

You Were Majorly Impacted by Delayed Diagnosis/Misdiagnosis

One common type of medical malpractice claim is the delaying of a diagnosis or a misdiagnosis. If another competent medical care provider could have discovered your illness or would have made a different diagnosis that would’ve resulted in a better outcome for you, you could have a medical malpractice claim on your hands.

A Medical Mistake Worsened Your Illness

Doctors and nurses make mistakes, but some of them could – and should – be avoided. If their mistake made your ailment worse, you could file a claim. For example, if you were administered an improper medication or anesthesia dosage during a surgical procedure, your doctor has made a serious error. Another example might be a doctor using unsterilized instruments during a surgical procedure that led to a major infection.

Your Doctor Blows Off Your Concerns

Many patients report feeling blown off by doctors during their lifetimes. This unfortunately all-too-common lack of compassionate care can be a big problem if your condition continues to worsen. If a doctor has blown off your concerns, and that has led to your health continuing to decline, you could have grounds to file a medical malpractice lawsuit. Hiring a personal injury lawyer can help you demonstrate to the court that your doctor(s) blew you off and led to your ailment worsening.

You’ve Received a Contrary Second Opinion

If you are unsure about an opinion given by a medical care provider, get a second opinion. Doing so can lessen the chance of receiving a misdiagnosis, thereby curbing the reception of any unnecessary and ineffective treatments.

If you have gone to see another doctor and received a completely contrary second opinion, you might wish to pursue a claim with the help of your attorney. This shows that your physician was not fulfilling their obligation to provide safe and reasonable care. You might even wish to get a third opinion for further reassurance.

Medical malpractice happens way more often than it should, and your issue deserves the attention of a personal injury lawyer. You could be entitled to damages upon successfully filing and advocating your claim. Go into it prepared with all your documentation and a compassionate lawyer.