We trust medical professionals with our health and our lives. When that trust is broken through negligence or incompetence, the consequences can be devastating. Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare provider deviates from the accepted standard of care, resulting in harm to the patient. Here are five signs that you may have a valid medical malpractice case.
Sign 1: Your Condition Worsened After Treatment
If your condition significantly worsened after receiving medical treatment, it could indicate that something went wrong. While not all poor outcomes constitute malpractice, a dramatic decline in your health following a procedure, medication change, or treatment plan warrants investigation. This is especially true if other doctors express surprise at the treatment approach that was taken.
Sign 2: You Received a Delayed or Incorrect Diagnosis
Misdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis are among the most common forms of medical malpractice. If your condition was misdiagnosed, causing you to receive unnecessary or harmful treatment, or if a delayed diagnosis allowed your condition to worsen when earlier detection would have improved your outcome, you may have a malpractice claim. Cancer misdiagnosis, in particular, can have life-altering consequences.
Sign 3: You Were Not Informed of Risks
Doctors have a legal obligation to obtain informed consent before performing procedures or prescribing treatments. This means explaining the risks, benefits, and alternatives so you can make an informed decision. If you suffered complications from a procedure and were never told about the risks involved, you may have a claim based on lack of informed consent.
Sign 4: A Surgical Error Occurred
Surgical errors include operating on the wrong body part, leaving surgical instruments inside the body, performing the wrong procedure, causing nerve damage during surgery, and post-surgical infections due to unsanitary conditions. These errors are often clear-cut cases of malpractice, as they represent obvious deviations from the standard of care.
Sign 5: You Received the Wrong Medication or Dosage
Medication errors can cause serious harm and include prescribing the wrong medication, prescribing an incorrect dosage, failing to check for drug interactions, and pharmacy dispensing errors. If you experienced adverse effects from a medication error, you may have a malpractice claim against the prescribing doctor, the pharmacy, or both.
What to Do If You Suspect Malpractice
Medical malpractice cases are complex and require expert testimony to establish that the standard of care was breached. If you suspect you have been a victim of medical malpractice, request copies of all your medical records, document your symptoms and how they have changed over time, get a second opinion from another healthcare provider, and consult with a medical malpractice attorney as soon as possible.
SettleWell's Medical Malpractice Network
SettleWell connects patients with attorneys who specialize in medical malpractice cases. These attorneys work with medical experts to evaluate your case, determine whether malpractice occurred, and fight for the compensation you deserve. Contact us for a free, confidential case review.