Healthcare Provider Alerts You of a Mistake
Many times a healthcare provider will own up to a mistake, which can help you avoid the hassle, time and expense of proving negligence. But victims should take care because in some cases admitting to the error could be a way of settling the matter quickly before the patient fully realizes the impact of the malpractice.
This is why it’s important to consult with an attorney before agreeing to a settlement, as there could be more serious implications than are readily apparent – financially, physically and psychologically – that appropriate legal action should address.
Medical Professionals are Avoiding Discussing Your Treatment or Condition
If you get the sense that something went wrong because of an error and decide to ask questions or raise concerns, some medical professionals will avoid the matter. The doctor might speak in technical terms and despite asking for clarification, you may still fail to understand the answers.
It could be that others involved in the care – such as a laboratory technician or nurse – also refuse to discuss the matter. Or their answers are general and don’t specifically address your situation. Make sure you get clear and direct answers to your questions so you can evaluate the care you received, and seek further assistance if you believe something is amiss.
You are Diagnosed without Proper Tests
In some cases, a general description of symptoms isn’t enough to make a diagnosis, especially in cases of serious diseases. So if a medical report indicates a specific diagnosis and yet the doctors did not run any tests or evaluate further beyond a general description of symptoms, this could be a sign that the doctor didn’t take appropriate action to diagnose the condition.
On the other hand, test results alone may not be enough to make a diagnosis. Evaluating diagnostic practices – and other medical malpractice cases, for that matter – requires the expertise of a medical professional who can provide expert testimony if necessary.
Treatment Doesn’t Improve the Condition
When a medical condition doesn’t respond appropriately to a treatment plan, it may indicate that the doctor was negligent in his or her care. Of course, treatment does not improve every patient’s condition even when administered perfectly. And the outcome of a surgical procedure – such as in plastic surgery – isn’t always going to provide the results the patient wanted. This, again, requires a medical expert evaluation to look at the standard of care provided by the doctor and whether the treatment choices were appropriate for the patient’s symptoms and condition.
Talk to a medical malpractice lawyer at Ryan, LLP in Cleveland about securing expert testimony and to help you determine if you have a valid medical malpractice case. Give us a call at 877-864-9495.
About the author of this article: Thomas Ryan