Did you know that in 2012, over three billion dollars were spent in medical malpractice payouts, averaging in one payout every 43 minutes?
While this is alarming, there are things that you can do to avoid being a part of that alarming statistic. To do this, you must become your best health care advocate. In today’s blog, we will be going over a few important things you should know about medical malpractice in order to know if you were the victim of medical negligence, what you should do if you suspect that you have received negligent care, how you can lessen your likelihood of experiencing medical malpractice, as well as three common medical malpractice claims. After reading this blog, if you feel as though you have been a victim of medical malpractice, please reach out to our personal injury lawyer in Minneapolis today so we can help you receive the compensation that you deserve.
How to Determine if You Have Been Medically Neglected
A claim of malpractice exists if your medical provider causes you injury or damages — however, experiencing a bad outcome isn’t always proof of receiving medical negligence, as bad outcomes can be unavoidable depending on the scenario. On occasion, health care providers will let a patient know if they have received medical care from a previous health care provider or if they have made a mistake themselves in an effort to be completely honest with you.
What to Do if You Suspect You Have Experienced Negligent Care
The first step to take if you suspect that you have experienced negligent care is to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer. Your personal injury lawyer will do a thorough review of the case details, including everything from securing pertinent medical records and interviewing the patient as well as family members and friends who have seen the extent of your malpractice injuries. This will help them to determine whether or not the case is actionable.
What You Can Do to Decrease Your Chances of Experiencing Medical Malpractice
No doubt, the first step you can take to decrease your chances of experiencing medical malpractice is to be proactive about your own medical care. It is highly suggested that patients do their research to better understand their health condition and document their symptoms. Patients should also ask their providers a list of questions that they personally feel is important, and demand full, complete answers to those questions. You should also never be intimidated by the medical system, be your own advocate for your own well-being, and speak up whenever you feel is necessary. If you sense that something is wrong, you should always tell your healthcare provider. While it is important to trust your provider, it is also crucial to listen to your own body.
Three Common Medical Malpractice Claims:
1. Misdiagnosis/Failure to Diagnose
Nearly 12 million people are misdiagnosed in an outpatient care setting each year in the United States. Misdiagnosis can be common due to some illnesses having obscure symptoms and sharing symptoms with other illnesses, making them more difficult to diagnose. Without having a proper diagnosis, it is almost impossible for a healthcare provider to implement a successful treatment plan — which can lead to diagnostic errors that harm patients as they lead to treatment delays, lack of treatment, unnecessary treatment, and even death.
2. Prescription Errors
These errors occur when a patient is prescribed the wrong medication, the incorrect dosage, or is not made fully aware of the side effects. It is common for prescription drug errors to go unreported by patients where medical professionals (including doctors, drug manufacturers, and pharmacists) could be held responsible for prescription mistakes.
3. Child Birth Errors
Almost 20 percent of all medical malpractice lawsuits are filed against OBGYNs — more than any other practice in the medical field. Both the mother and the infant can be victims of medical negligence — negligence during childbirth can lead to complications such as spinal cord injuries and postpartum hemorrhage, while the mother may be medically neglected during labor that causes harm to her or the baby. While not all complications during childbirth are unavoidable, mothers and newborn babies deserve to have an extremely high level of care.
If you feel as though you or someone you love has been medically neglected and deserves to be compensated for the injuries and distress that either of you experienced, please do not hesitate to reach out to our personal injury lawyers at Woods & Thompson, P.A. in Minneapolis today. We are dedicated to helping individuals and families who have been injured in a wide range of accidents, from medical malpractice to auto accidents and more. With years of experience and the highest level of professionalism, we are your go-to personal injury lawyers in Minnesota to get you the compensation you deserve.