When you consult a medical professional, you’re reliant on them to address your concerns and use their expertise to diagnose you. If you require subsequent treatment, you may also rely on your doctor to administer this treatment or to refer you to a specialist. However, what happens if something goes wrong and you’re let down by the medical practitioners you trust?
Sadly, this isn’t an uncommon occurrence. A late diagnosis, a prescription error, or a mistake during surgery can have a catastrophic impact on the patient but few people know where to turn to for help. If you’re worried about what to do, take a look at these top tips for taking action when your medical care goes wrong:
1. Vocalize Your Concerns
As soon as you feel that something is amiss, be sure to speak up and vocalize your concerns to your medical team. Your actions may prevent a serious error from occurring, so it’s in your interest to be as insistent as you need to be. If you feel unable about doing this, ask a close family member or your next of kin to raise these concerns on your behalf.
2. Get a Second Opinion
Ask for a second opinion if you’re concerned that a medical professional isn’t providing adequate care or treatment. This will enable you to seek advice from another, unrelated professional, and obtain the high-quality care you deserve.
3. Make a Complaint
If you’re unhappy with the treatment you’ve received or you are currently receiving, ask for the details of the organization’s formal complaints process. In hospitals, there may be social workers or a designated department that handles patient complaints. In outpatient clinics, there should be a formal process that ensures your complaints are investigated. In addition to this, you can also make a complaint to the medical professional’s licensing board.
4. Seek Legal Advice
When a medical professional has acted negligently, they may have committed medical malpractice. If so, experienced attorneys could help you to make a claim against them. As there are so many different types of medical malpractice, it can be helpful to seek advice from a law firm that specializes in the relevant area of law. If your baby sustained a birth injury during labor, for example, Birth Injury Lawyers The Malpractice Group Law Firm could assist you with a claim.
5. Access Support
Receiving poor medical care can be a traumatic experience in itself, regardless of the level of harm or injury you sustain as a result. If you feel ignored or mistreated in a clinical setting, it can have a long-term impact on your mental health and emotional well-being. By accessing support, however, you can minimize the emotional toll the incident takes on you and overcome the trauma you’ve experienced.
Finding the Best Medical Care
A bad experience can put you off going to the doctor, having surgery, or even visiting the dentist regularly but you should never give up on finding the best medical care. By talking to multiple practitioners, asking for recommendations, and thoroughly researching potential medical professionals, you can find a reputable and compassionate physician that you feel comfortable with.
