When you seek medical treatment, you hope that you never run into any form of malpractice. However, since medical professionals are human, mistakes can and do happen from time to time.
If you believe you’ve been the victim of medical malpractice, it’s important to understand your legal rights and what you should do next. Here are some questions you can review to add clarity:
- What are the most common forms of medical malpractice? There are many types of medical malpractice, including failure to diagnose, misdiagnosis and surgical errors.
- What is a medical malpractice claim? This is a claim of negligence against a medical provider whose treatment was not in line with the standard of care.
- Can you file a medical malpractice claim if you’re unhappy with the service or results of a procedure? Since there is no guarantee of medical results, the general answer is no. If you want to file a claim, you need to prove that there were some damages or injuries associated with the treatment and/or procedure.
- What should you do after an instance of medical malpractice? First off, receive a second opinion to ensure that you have your health in order. Also, obtain your medical records for future use. You can then consult with an attorney to learn more about your legal rights.
It’s frustrating to find that you were the victim of medical malpractice, but the best thing you can do at that point is focus on improving your health. Once you’re stable, you can then turn your attention to the reason for the malpractice and how to hold the negligent medical professional responsible.