Do No Harm? What to Do When Your Doctor Does More Damage Than Good
When doctors complete med school and start their residency, they take an oath to do everything they can to heal the sick and maintain patient confidentiality. Unfortunately, there are times when things go wrong and patient care is compromised.
When this happens, regardless if it’s intentional or not, it’s considered malpractice. As such, patients have the legal right to file a malpractice case against them. However, knowing where to start can be tricky, especially if you’re already suffering physical repercussions.
Here’s what you can do if a doctor causes more harm than good.
Gather the Necessary Evidence
The first step to building a malpractice case is by gathering all the necessary evidence. This includes pertinent medical records and eyewitness testimonials, if possible. You’ll need this information to prove your case. Again, whether they meant to or not, doctors who participate are guilty of malpractice can ruin the patient’s life.
Understand What Qualifies for Malpractice
Before gathering your evidence and filing a case, you need to know what is considered to be malpractice. Some doctors have been unfairly blamed for malpractice due to the other party’s ignorance. For instance, let’s take a look at dentists.
Dentists can be accused of malpractice if they:
- Botch a dental operation
- Cause an extreme injury during a root canal
- Don’t inform their patient of the risks and side effects
- Make a mistake due to their negligence
- Don’t properly diagnose the issue
These are the most common reasons why a dentist may be accused of malpractice. If you experience any of these situations, you’ll need to contact a reputable dental injury attorney.
Contact an Attorney
Once you have everything organized, it’s time to contact an attorney who specializes in medical malpractice. These attorneys have the necessary knowledge and experience to handle cases such as these. And with how sensitive a malpractice case is, you need to work with a lawyer who is specialized in malpractice. Take a look at the reviews left by other clients and also perform a background research to see how many cases they’ve won.
While you should never rush in finding a lawyer, it’s important not to drag your feet. You’ll need to file a malpractice case relatively quickly to maintain clarity of events and not come off as just trying to collect money. Filing a malpractice case weeks or even months after the incident can come off as sketchy.
When filing a malpractice case, it pays to be diligent and work with an attorney who can get you the money you deserve. If you’re a victim of malpractice, don’t wait to action. Look at all the options and contact a malpractice attorney for further advice.
