According to ResearchGate, medical errors are responsible for up to 251,000 deaths each year, making it the third leading cause of death in the US. Besides mortality, it also causes disability, delayed recovery and even emotional trauma.
Suffering from such a mistake from health professionals you trust to look after you or your loved ones’ health and injuries can be devastating. It is only natural to seek answers. Perhaps the best way to cope is to know the process of investigating your medical malpractice case to piece the incident together.
Let’s look at how these investigations work for medical malpractice cases to give you clarity if you decide to pursue a claim.
Contents
Understanding Medical Negligence
When you think about medical negligence, it is important to comprehend that it is beyond a mere mistake; it happens when the health provider who has been allowed privacy to decide on the care to be given chooses to breach the set standard of care and in doing so harms a patient.
This can be anything from a misdiagnosis or surgical error to even poor treatment. Learn about the real definition of medical negligence. Seek redress should you ever feel any disappointment about a medical practitioner. This will not only give you a way to fight for yourself but also ensure that fellow patients do not end up being subjected to the same fate.
Witnessing an act of negligence can empower you and make you feel allied and supported in the trials along the way of your healthcare. Remember, you are not alone; countless others have trod a somewhat similar path that can awaken other necessary steps with you.
Gathering Evidence and Documentation
According to medical malpractice lawyer Harold L. Rosnick, approximately 80% to 90% of jury trials concerning medical malpractice are won by doctors as a result of weak evidence against them. You can counter this issue by presenting solid evidence and conducting proper documentation.
Evidence collection and documentation are activities performed on any medical malpractice case. Whatever evidence can be gathered to support the case should be acquired. A record should be maintained for every item related to the case. These records should include when and where the alleged incident occurred. Any witnesses who may be able to provide support should be included.
Medical records, prescriptions, bills-all this is important to know exactly what treatment has been given to you or what complications arose from it. Whenever possible, keep a daily log of your symptoms, the levels of pain experienced, and the impairment caused in daily living activities.
A claim would be so much stronger if a lawyer had an organized method for how documents were presented. Once you understand that you are not an isolated case, an appropriate body of evidence can make all the difference.
Reviewing Medical Records
Requesting and reviewing the medical records is important to building your malpractice claim. These records contain critical information about your treatment and may reveal inconsistent findings or other errors that could support your case.
Important things to look for are notes about diagnosis, treatment, or communication between providers. This is to check if everything aligns with your story or the care you were provided.
Having examined the records helps you take a big step toward understanding your case and thus helping strengthen your claim. Never hesitate to ask questions or seek support from another who shares your journey. You deserve clarity and justice.
Consulting With Medical Experts
In consulting experts, such an act is an important step toward fortifying your medical malpractice claim. They may expound on the standards of care applicable in your particular case. They will be reviewing the situation, concentrating on the specific ways in which things went wrong. They will be able to offer opinions valuable to supporting your argument, easing a proof of negligence case.
While selecting an expert, try to find someone with experience in the particular medical area relevant to your claim because credibility will go a long way toward the case. An expert can help you handle medical malpractice. Their expertise can help you confirm the details of your case. In turn, it will also give you the strength to push through with your claim.
Filing the Claim and Legal Proceedings
An expert medical practitioner is a consulting expert who provides an opinion on the standard of care in your case. They may look at the facts of your case and try to suggest where there may be breaches. They will be able to offer opinions valuable to supporting your argument, easing a proof of negligence case.
While selecting an expert, try to find someone with experience in the particular medical area relevant to your claim because credibility will go a long way toward the case. Experts can certainly help you through the complicated world of medical malpractice.
