When you’re suffering from an illness or ailment, you can put a lot of trust in the medical professionals who are treating your condition to improve your health. Unfortunately, not all medical professionals are reputable and some are prone to making mistakes. If you think you may be a victim of medical malpractice, there are a few signs to consider.
Errors Occurred During Surgery
Unfortunately, errors can occur with all types of surgery, which can affect your health and may lead to other health issues that develop. Doctors can admit that a complication or mistake occurred, which not only prevents you from recovering properly but can lead to additional complications. If you have unexpected symptoms following your surgery, you may be a victim of medical malpractice and need to reach out to a personal injury lawyer, someone like William A. Andy Law, to begin the process of filing a lawsuit.
You Get a Different Second Opinion
Most people have every reason to trust and believe their doctor. However, especially when it comes to serious diagnoses, it’s always a good idea to get a second opinion; either from a second doctor or a specialist. If something isn’t feeling right, you may even want to seek out a third opinion just to be sure.
It’s important to get the correct diagnosis because being treated for the wrong thing is one of the quickest ways to put your health at serious risk. If your doctor is insistent on one diagnosis even after you’ve obtained other opinions saying otherwise, you may want to take note.
An Understaffed Medical Facility
Medical malpractice doesn’t just occur when doctors make mistakes. There are other ways your health can be put at risk, and sometimes it’s from other medical professionals who are tasked with treating you. A big risk of malpractice can be due to an understaffed medical facility. Doctors and nurses juggling too many things can lead to a compromise of the level of care that you receive and can prevent you from receiving the medical attention you need. Worse, a mistake could be made, which in the medical world can be extremely dangerous.
Your Health Continues to Decline
When you’re in the care of your doctor, you may trust their expertise as they provide you with different treatment options. Unfortunately, your health may continue to decline and your symptoms can continue to become more severe as you take the medications they’ve prescribed or undergo specific surgeries.
This is often due to being misdiagnosed, which can prevent the actual medical condition from being treated. The physician may also not be thorough enough with the labs that were ordered or the tests that were performed, which can compromise the level of care you receive and make it difficult to recover and improve your health.
You’ll need to become your own advocate when it comes to protecting your health while in the care of medical professionals to ensure you avoid complications. If you suspect you’re the victim of medical malpractice, you can take legal action and seek compensation to ensure the medical professional is held accountable.
Kara Masterson is a freelance writer from Utah. She graduated from the University of Utah and enjoys writing and spending time with her dog, Max.
