What should I do if I believe a medical provider was negligent?
Medical Negligence, commonly referred to as “Medical Malpractice” is a very serious event that could result in permanent harm, injury or death to a patient.
Medical Negligence occurs when a doctor, hospital or medical professional fails to meet the appropriate standard a care while treating a patient. It comes in many different forms, such as:
- misdiagnosis or failure to diagnose;
- error in a surgical procedure;
- unnecessary or incorrect surgery.
- failure to order appropriate tests or to act on results.
- prescribing the wrong dosage or type of medication.
- leaving something inside a patient’s body after surgery.
- operating on the wrong body part;
If you believe that you or a family member has been the victim of medical negligence then it is important that you take the following steps to preserve your claim:
Document dates, times, names of doctors and nurses, dosages, etc. Be descriptive in your notes and try to document as things are happening, if possible;
Obtain copies of your medical records but do not mention that you want them because you are contemplating a lawsuit.; and
Contact a lawyer experienced in medical negligence.
Since medical negligence cases are not only complicated and expensive most medical negligence lawyers will not proceed unless negligence can be proven and the harm that it caused is significant.