Medical malpractice can impact nearly anyone, from infants to adults. If you seek medical treatment at any time, then you could be a victim of malpractice.
Malpractice includes making mistakes that harm a patient and intentional participation in misconduct involving a patient. Unfortunately, many people who suffer injuries never know for sure, because the medical provider is unlikely to admit to a mistake and risk a malpractice claim.
Those who believe that they’re victims of malpractice or that their children were victims can take steps to resolve the situation. Here are three things you can consider doing to help yourself.
1. Talk to the medical provider
While the provider may not tell you exactly what happened, you still have the right to ask and know what happened to you. If, for example, a sponge is found on an ultrasound, you could ask if they made a mistake and left it inside. Clearly, they did, but admitting the error is often what patients want to hear most. If the medical provider won’t admit to a mistake, you can ask for your medical charts.
2. Review your charts with a new provider
The next thing to do is to review your medical chart and the injuries you’ve suffered with a new provider. A second opinion is essential, especially if you believe malpractice took place. The new provider may be able to tell you how certain injuries would happen and may be willing to support a claim for malpractice if you choose to make one.
3. Talk to an attorney about what happened
Finally, talk to your attorney about what happened. Attorneys have participated in many cases like yours and should be able to help you understand the likelihood of having a successful malpractice case. If you have good supporting evidence and a professional who is willing to testify that you were hurt because of a low standard of care, mistakes or other issues, then you may have a better chance of winning your case.
In many cases, malpractice lawsuits don’t go to trial. Instead, they are settled outside of court to help the medical provider preserve their reputation. It’s up to you if you want to take a settlement or take the case to court in Detroit. Your attorney will talk to you about any settlement offers you receive and if they would be fair based on your injuries.
