When you go to a hospital, you expect to leave better than when you came in. Hospitals are meant to heal, not harm. It is the job of the doctor you go to to provide proper medical care and inform you of any risks of procedures or medications. If there is a mistake made during diagnosis or treatment, you are supposed to be informed as soon as possible. When you are seriously harmed by a medical malpractice (whether physically, emotionally, or mentally), consider seeking legal action.
Reasons to File a Lawsuit
Medical Malpractice lawsuits are serious. When considering filing a case, be sure to establish why. The most common reasons for reasons for these types of lawsuits are: improper treatment, further injury, failure to warn a patient of known risks, and misdiagnosis. These are all serious mistakes that have the potential of costing you time, money, and pain. Mistakes made by a doctor could possibly cost you your well-being, your job, and even your life.
Know that in order to file a suit, you will have needed to go to this medical professional and be treated by them officially. You most likely won’t be able to build a case against them for advice they gave you in passing. This is very different from you having a scheduled appointment with them at their office, or being their patient while checked into a hospital.
Protect Yourself from Further Harm
Go to another doctor or hospital, and make sure that you can be properly treated for the injury or diagnosis. In general, having a second opinion from another doctor can help rule out misdiagnosis and can provide a better idea of whether or not you have been mistreated. In many malpractice suits, having a third-party doctor to provide information on your injuries or pain after the fact can be vital to building a case. Some states or hospitals may actually require this before moving forward in the case.
Seek Legal Help Immediately
It is important to have a legal team on your side as you go through this ordeal. Without proper legal representation, it can be hard to receive proper compensation for malpractice, if any at all. Having a legal team you can trust on your side can make a huge difference. It can be extremely difficult to navigate all the red tape and rules regarding malpractice cases on your own.
Do not meet with other parties involved in the accident without a lawyer present. Do not sign anything from another party or from that party’s lawyer without discussing it with your legal counsel first.
For over 25 years, D’Agostino & Associates, P.C. has been assisting people in the New York/New Jersey area with injury cases of all shapes and sizes; from medical malpractice to accidents in the workplace. Bite Back with D’Agostino & Associates, P.C.